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Mediation an ‘emerging profession’ in Australia
A review of Australia’s National Mediator Accreditation System has highlighted the positive role that the NMAS has played in the mediator community, adding credibility and integrity to its practice across the country.
Jerome Doraisamy
Independent research firm Resolution Resources has delivered its Findings and Recommendations Report to the Mediator Standards Board (MSB), the nation’s peak body for accredited mediators.
In a statement issued last week, MSB chairman Christopher Boyle said that the review process “highlighted the positive role that the NMAS has played in the mediator community, adding credibility and integrity to the training and practice of Australian mediators”.
The findings, MSB proclaimed, show that mediation in Australia is an “emerging profession”.
“There are elements of self-regulation that are definitive of mature professions that mediation could draw from, particularly in respect of complaints handling and discipline.
“The path to a fully-developed profession is one that will take some time to travel, and the exact route to that destination is not yet clear,” it noted.
MSB has resolved, it continued, to commit further resources to prepare short-, medium- and long-term responses to the review, including clear transition periods for individuals and organisations that may be affected.
“Until threshold decisions have been made, it would be premature and distracting to engage in discussions about details of how recommendations might be implemented,” it said.
“The board will continue engaging with the community — we are a members’ organisation. The MSB was established to govern a system for member organisations, and it intends to maintain that,” said Mr Boyle.
A process of active engagement will be announced by the MSB in the coming months.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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