This course is not currently offered, please contact the school or faculty of your program.

Course description

This course is designed to acquaint students with a background in basic mediation theory and practice with some of the fundamental issues in the area of Family Dispute Resolution. It is designed specifically for students wishing to become Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners but also may be relevant to students with a wider interest in the fields of Conflict Resolution, Family Law, Social Work and related disciplines that involve working with families in conflict. Topics to be addressed include: the family in today's society; families, parenting, conflict and the law; intake and assessment; family violence and impact of unresolved conflict on children; issues for separating couples; child focussed dispute resolution; flexible approaches to family dispute resolution; therapeutic responses in family dispute resolution; other types of family disputes and the role of mediation; and, where to from here? Students will undertake practical exercises and be introduced to salient features associated with the context and management of family disputes in Australian society. The course will be conducted in a four-day intensive block of classes (9 am-5 pm).