Towards Uniform Accreditation of Mediators in Australia

In its most essential form, accreditation serves to convey to a third party consumer of goods, or services, that the holder of the accreditation has been independently assessed to provide services at a certain level of competency. At the National Mediation Conference held in Darwin in 2004, it was announced that the then Federal Attorney General, the Hon P Ruddock had approved a grant of $30,000 to facilitate a discussion on what were suitable standards for mediation in Australia. The grant was to be administered by the National Mediation Conference Ltd. The Director of the National Mediation Conference (NMC) appointed a sub committee, consisting of Scott Pettersson, Helen Marks and Karen Dey (all then Directors of the NMC) to form the basis of the sub-committee.  Their task was to appoint other members to the sub-committee that would be representative of:

•    the various industry sectors

•    the geographic diversity of practitioners, and

•    suitably experienced in both the practice of mediation and also administration of mediation

Professor Laurence Boulle of Bond University was appointed to be the facilitator of the discussions. In Hobart 2006, at the 8th National Mediation Conference in Hobart the Draft National Mediation Accreditation System was approved. The scheme moved to the implementation phase. In Perth in 2008, from 10 to 12 September, the 9th National Mediation Conference will be held. The final approved Australian National Meditator Standard  has been released. It is to be found at:

http://www.wadra.law.ecu.edu.au/pdf/Final%20%20Approval%20Standards_200907.pdf

The Standard provides the scope, the qualification and integrity thresholds as well as those for continuing education. It should provide the market for these services with a reasonably objective standard to judge practitioner’s basic ability to act as a mediator at a basic or elementary level. Barrister Mediators will need to assess their position in the light of the new standard. If the Bar Association of Queensland becomes a Registered Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB), mediators presently listed as mediators with BAQ may, if they conform to the new standard, be accredited in the overall scheme. The new scheme is a totally voluntary scheme, and has been developed on an “opt in” basis for anyone practising mediation in Australia. Doubtless the Association will keep members informed of developments as they occur.

Geoff Gunn