COMMUNIKEYS

Each person and each relationship is unique.
Resolving any conflict will be unique too.

Mediation & Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)

Mediation is a formal process that supports people to argue without the argument getting out of hand. Many people find it difficult to:

1. Keep the argument moving forward without getting dragged back to the past. Mediation is future focused, so in 3-4 hours you can talk about:

• Why you want to resolve the issue your way
• What compromises will work so you are BOTH comfortable with the outcome and more likely to stick with it
• How this is going to be carried out so you are both clear on what is going to happen and not need to argue about this again

2. Stay calm and open to hearing what the other person is saying. Some people get defensive; others go on the attack. Either way, it is hard to find a solution to the problem unless you can keep control over your emotions

Mediators have tools to help you both stay calm and focused on resolving your argument leading to a much better chance that you will never argue on this problem again.

Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)

FDR is mediation specifically dealing with family law. Mediators in this area (FDRPs) need to have extra training to understand the best interests of children and how to protect them from imminent harm. FDR is a mandatory requirement before court processes can be initiated (under s60i of the Family Law Act) and FDRPs need to be accredited in order to do the mediation and/or provide a certificate so court is an option. You can look up your practitioner to see their accreditation in the Attorney General's website: FDRR Homepage - Family Dispute Resolution Register. I find it easiest to look under the surname of the FDR practitioner as the first name can be spelled differently.

Like all mediations, the decisions are left to the parents not made for them. The mediator will support you make the best decisions for your children by providing information about research and drawing out what you know about your children and what works best for them.

Child Inclusive Practice (CIP)

CIP is an optional extra in FDR allowing the children to be consulted in the FDR process. The children are not expected to make any decisions about how their care is managed; however, their views are shared with the parents so the parents can make an informed decision.

FDR Property Mediations

When separating, special attention needs to be paid to the division of the assets as there is only one attempt (except with permission from the Family Law Court). A mediation can resolve the bulk of the division, leaving the formal part for the lawyers and court.

Conflict Coaching

Conflict Coaching is a one-on-one process where you are guided through the skills you need to resolve conflict when the other person is not interested in resolution other than getting their own way. Often this will be in tandem with other courses such as PET or SOME or WCMT. It can also be useful when preparing for a mediation.

Parent Effectiveness Training (PET)

As Dr Thomas Gordon (creator of PET) says, ‘Parenting is the job for which we receive the least training’ and yet for most of us it is the most important job we will ever have.

This is an extensive course of eight 3-hour sessions run during the school terms in Australia giving proven practical skills and a chance to practice them with coaching to ensure the best success in improving your relationship with your children.

Save Our Marriage Experience (SOME)

Divorce rates are as high as (or even higher than) 50% of all marriages in Australia. The number one reason people cite for separating from their partner are difficulties in communication.

Save your marriage (and the $00,000s it costs to separate) by enhancing your communication skills.

Workplace Conflict Management Training (WCMT)

Nowadays, being a manager means dealing with conflict between different personalities in the workplace. This can cost time and money in managing these personalities or, worse, finding and training their replacement.

Learn communication skills to bring out the best in your employees (AND/OR ‘managing up’ if you love your job but wish your manager had done training in how to communicate!)