Accreditation

Australian National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS)

As a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB), LEADR has been accrediting mediators to the national standards since they were introduced in 2008.

To apply

To apply for accreditation by LEADR to the National Standards, click here >>

To be nationally accredited (or re-accredited), the Mediator Standards Board requires you to pay a registration fee of $100 (inclusive of GST). The Mediator Standards Board has arranged for RMABs such as LEADR to collect this fee, retaining $10 to contribute towards the costs of collection and to remit the remaining $90 to the MSB. Find out more about the nationally accredited mediator registration fee >>

Find out more

Brochure about national accreditation and its benefits

FAQ >>

The Standards themselves

• Approval Standards for mediators seeking approval under the NMAS
• Practice Standards for mediators operating under the NMAS
  

Implementing the Standards

The Mediator Standards Board is responsible for the development of mediator standards and the implementation of the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS).

The address of the MSB is www.msb.org.au

Other documents about the Standards

• Commentary on the Approval Standards >>
• Commentary on the Practice Standards >>
• Report on the National Mediator Standards project >>

LEADR articles about the NMAS

• About the blended process: information or advice? >>
• Advertising as a nationally accredited mediator >>
• LEADR's involvement with the National Standards >>

Continuing professional development

List of all LEADR state and national events over past 2 years which could contribute to CPD >>

LEADR Accreditation Scheme

LEADR has accredited mediators under its own Accreditation Scheme for over 10 years and is a recognised accrediting agency for mediators under the Mediation Act which was enacted in the Australian Capital Territory in 1997.

Under the LEADR Accreditation Scheme, dispute resolution practitioners:

• Have their competency assessed objectively
• Are accredited at one of two levels: “Accredited” and “Advanced".
• Are required to show that they have continued to maintain their skills during each 3 year period following initial accreditation.

LEADR Accreditation Committee

The LEADR accreditation program is governed by an Accreditation Committee appointed by and accountable to the LEADR Board. Current members are:

• Sir Laurence Street, KCMG (Chair)
• Dr Malcolm Stuart, business professional
• Ms Carol Powell, mediator
• Ms Franca Petrone, academic and dispute resolution practitioner.

Levels of accreditation

Dispute resolution practitioners are accredited by LEADR at one of two levels: “Accredited” and “Advanced".

“Accredited” signifies that the person has:

• Completed a LEADR dispute resolution workshop (such as the four or five-day mediation workshop) or a comparable workshop;
  OR
• Completed a dispute resolution training program developed through a recognised institution of higher learning which addresses both the theory and practice of mediation;
  
  AND
• Demonstrated competency by conducting a simulated two-hour mediation which is videotaped and assessed by one or more assessors;
  OR
• Is able to provide other evidence of dispute resolution competency judged by the Accreditation Committee as satisfactory.

Accredited mediators must also meet other requirements specified in the LEADR Accreditation Scheme.

“Advanced” signifies that, in addition to the above requirements, the person has also carried out in the previous three years a minimum of 250 hours of practice – typically 35 or more mediations – with written evaluations attesting to their proficiency from at least 10 of the involved parties.

Dispute resolution practitioners already accredited as of October 1, 2002 under earlier LEADR schemes continue their accreditation but must meet requirements described under Retaining Accreditation (below) to remain accredited.

Applying for Accreditation

To apply for accreditation by LEADR and to the National Standards, download the Accreditation application form here >>

To be nationally accredited (or re-accredited), the Mediator Standards Board also requires you to pay a registration fee of $100 (inclusive of GST).  The Mediator Standards Board has arranged for RMABs such as LEADR to collect this fee, retaining $10 to contribute towards the costs of collection and to remit the remaining $90 to the MSB. Find out more about the nationally accredited mediator registration fee >>

To apply for LEADR Advanced accreditation, download the Advanced accreditation application form here >>

For more information download the full text of LEADR's Accreditation Scheme >> or contact LEADR.

Video assessment

LEADR conducts video assessments of candidates who wish to apply for mediation accreditation by LEADR and under the National Mediator Accreditation System.

Who can take the video assessment?

Candidates need to have, either:

• Completed a LEADR mediation workshop, or
• Applied to LEADR to have their training recognised as having met the knowledge, skills and ethical understandings described by the national standards.

Download the flyer with registration form >>

How is a video assessment organised?

LEADR offers video assessments to candidates in order of receipt of registration forms. By email we:

• Offer a time and date for an assessment and ask you to reply accepting this offer
• Confirm this time and date
• Send you the scenario and other materials about one week before the assessment.

How is the assessment conducted?

• The candidate conducts a mediation simulation as the mediator for 1.5-2 hours.
• Volunteers play the role of the two parties in the simulated dispute.
• The simulation is videoed and sent to an assessor for assessment against a set of core mediation competencies. For competency criteria, please see the assessment form >>
• Within approximately four weeks we inform you of the outcome.  If assessed as:
  • competent, we invite you to apply for Accreditation (see below) 
  • not yet competent, we send the video to a second assessor.  Depending on the outcome, we invite you to apply for accreditation or to develop your skills and competencies before taking another video assessment.
• We email you a result letter, evaluation/s and application for national accreditation.

How do I apply for accreditation after being assessed as competent?

If you are assessed as competent you need to:

• Complete the national accreditation application form which is emailed to you and,
• Pay the appropriate membership fee.

What is the fee for the video assessment?

$550 (inclusive of $50 GST)

Download the flyer with registration form >>

Video assessment dates for 2012

Download the flyer with registration form >>

Please note: LEADR takes every care to ensure that the video assessment process is run efficiently and professionally. On rare occasions due to unforeseeable technical problems, the videoing may fail. In this case, we will invite you to complete another video assessment at no additional fee. LEADR will make every effort to organise this at a time suitable to you.

In New Zealand

For dates of video assessments in New Zealand, click here >>

Retaining accreditation

To retain accreditation, mediators must show that they have continued to maintain their skills during each three year period following initial accreditation. Those with standard accreditation must conduct 75 hours of mediation or complete 25 hours of training during this period.

The Accreditation Committee is authorised to conduct a review of any mediator’s accreditation at any time, so that if complaints arise about a mediator, the Committee can determine whether to continue the accreditation. The Committee does not need to disclose the complainant's name to the mediator.

Conflict management coaching accreditation

Accreditation with LEADR as a conflict management coach gives your clients an assurance of quality.

Requirements for accreditation as a confict management coach with LEADR

• Before undertaking assessment:
• Completion of a CINERGY® conflict coaching course or CINERGY® conflict management coaching course of at least 28 hours in duration
  AND
• Completion of the whole model with at least 4 different clients
  (Note: clients may include colleagues, co-workers, friends and family members as well as clients who retain your services)
• Assessment: Completion of a one hour long conflict management coaching session that is video recorded and from which you as Coach are assessed as “competent” against the CINERGY® conflict management coaching model and competencies. There is a fee of $350 to be assessed. You will only be accredited once you have been assessed as “competent”.  If you receive an assessment of “Not yet competent”, you may complete another assessment session, however this entails further payment.
• Evidence of good character
• Agreement to comply with the Model standards of ethical conduct for conflict management coaches and any relevant legislation or requirements for particular schemes
• Professional indemnity insurance (or insurance cover provided through employer or statutory scheme), evidence of which is provided to LEADR
• Membership of LEADR.

For more details on the requirements, click here >>

For an application form, click here >>

For the Model standards of ethical conduct for conflict management coaches, click here >>

Queries? Let us help

Contact us for more information or assistance.

Telephone: 02 9251 3366
Freecall: 1800 651 650
E-mail: leadr@leadr.com.au

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