FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICE

This subject forms the foundation of the family dispute resolution (FDR) subjects. In this subject students will be introduced to family law and the place of mediation within family law.

Students will acquire the requisite knowledge to enable them, as a family dispute resolution practitioners (FDRP), to contextualise and appreciate each party’s unique situation within the family law framework, and assist each of them to understand their own role and their respective roles in the process.

This subject also discusses where mediation sits on the dispute resolution spectrum and how the process assists in the resolution of family disputes.

Before you enrol
This subject includes mandatory workshops. Please review the workshop dates to make sure you’re able to attend.

An understanding of families involves an introduction to the meaning and purpose of the family system, and how the family is impacted through separation. This subject introduces the student to the nuances of working with conflicted families. It will focus on understanding how family groups function and how they are affected by conflict. In particular students will explore how children exposed to parental conflict can be impacted.

Before you enrol
This subject includes mandatory workshops. Please review the workshop dates to make sure you’re able to attend.

This subject explores some of the advanced concepts surrounding mediating with families, such as recognising and managing ethical dilemmas, screening and assessing family and domestic violence, and managing the complexities of working with perpetrators of violence. It is important that family dispute resolution practitioners (FDRPs) are able to assess whether their clients and cases are suitable for dispute resolution processes such as mediation and conciliation. It is also important that they are able to identify matters such as power imbalances and cultural issues that may impact on their clients’ ability to negotiate effectively within these processes. From a broad-based perspective, this subject also encompasses wider factors such as gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, language, level of education and the effect of intergenerational differences.

Before you enrol
This subject includes mandatory workshops. Please review the workshop dates to make sure you’re able to attend.

FDR4 is designed to be the clinical subject to underpin the theory of family dispute resolution practice. By the end of this subject students will have an understanding of the family dispute resolution case management principles. By completing this subject students will have the opportunity to manage family dispute resolution cases within simulated workplace experiences. Students will take the carriage of four matters of various complexities that they will manage from intake, through to assessment, education, and referral, culminating in conducting the mediation.

Successful completion of this subject will provide 30 hours of clinical placement under the FDRP practicum requirements.

Before you enrol
This subject includes mandatory workshops. Please review the workshop dates to make sure you’re able to attend.

This subject is designed to provide students with the virtual simulation practice in family dispute resolution setting. This subject consists of the items of practical coursework. During this subject, students will be required to lead or co-facilitate on three matters, including: children matters and property matters. 

Before you enrol
This subject includes mandatory workshops. Please review the workshop dates to make sure you’re able to attend.