Current Developments Conference
The College of Law is presenting the inaugural Current Developments Conference in Melbourne on Thursday 6 October. This is a seminar tailored to Masters students across all practice areas. The day will provide new and exciting updates from College lecturers, and provide a great networking opportunity with lecturers and fellow peers. Join me to hear about: Ethics…
New insights into the Narrative Model of Conflict Coaching
I recently attended a workshop with Professor Nadja Alexander who presented the REAL approach to conflict coaching. This provided new and exciting insights into the understanding of, and dealing with conflict. I was inspired by her holistic approach, assisting clients not only to understand and deal with a particular conflict, but to develop conflict management…
Towards a new narrative of mediation.
The recent National Mediation Conference was a wonderful opportunity for challenging long held ideas, to move towards innovation and change. This can only happen when exposed to new concepts that promote a different way of thinking and doing. The conference definitely achieved this for me! As mediators and FDRPs we are taught the “classic…
The National Mediation Conference 2016-innovation for a new road map.
In mid September more than 500 participants met at the Gold Coast. Over the five days of the conference, we were presented with many innovative ideas around philosophy, methodology and practice. There was one overriding theme- it was suggested that we take these ideas on board and use them to compare maps, and look at…
The Second Independent Children’s Lawyers Conference
A wonderful opportunity to join with other ICLs to discuss recent developments , and hear from leading professionals who can add to the tools we have available to assist with the demands of our role. Hear Dr George Klein from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Centre for Addiction medicine, discuss “Drug use and…
Child Focus and the Narrative Model of Dispute Resolution
This approach to mediation evolved from the narrative family therapy model developed in the mid 1980s. [1] It is based on the understanding that the way we interpret the world around us depends on our social and cultural background and experiences. In other words, the meaning we attribute to events, our reactions and point of…
Obligations of the FDRP at intake
The Family Law Act defines Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) as: a process, other than a judicial process, in which a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) helps people affected or likely to be affected by separation or divorce to resolve some of all of their disputes with each other. [1] It is envisaged in this process…
FDRP Training-how to adapt the basic mediation model to family disputes
This week I am presenting the workshops in Unit 2 of the FDRP Training provided by the College of Law. Over three days we will explore how to adapt the skills learned from Unit 1 about the basic mediation model, to family disputes. We will focus on the intake or pre-mediation assessment, how to facilitate…
Best interests-what is it?
The focus of the Family Law Act in parenting matters is on “the best interests of the child” as the paramount consideration” (s60CA). This notion of “best interests” permeates all legal discussion regarding children and is spoken of as if it is a thing that can be clearly identified, and that everyone who assists parents…
Yoga-more than mindfulness
As I drive away from a week long yoga retreat at Mission Beach, I feel balanced and at peace. I look out at the amazing scenes of nature around me and ponder on how different I feel to the trip from the airport some 7 days ago. I am also nervous to return to the…