The Mediator Training Academy (MTA), incorporated with the Australian Mediation Association (AMA) is the premier training and support organisation for all things related to mediation in Australia. The Mediator Training Academy's Academic Advisory Board includes some of the most qualified mediators, teachers and education authors in the country. We have years of experience in qualifying Mediators, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Continual Professional Development requirements at the highest professional levels in Australia.
Successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution allows graduates to become accredited by the Attorney-General’s Department to become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
This study can be done quickly and online in the comfort of your own home or office throughout Australia.
Our Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution is prepared by our Academic Advisory Board which includes some of the most qualified mediators, teachers and education authors in Australia.
A family dispute resolution (FDR) practitioner is an independent person who helps people affected by separation or divorce to resolve their parenting disputes. It is compulsory for couples to attend an FDR practitioner prior to attending the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. For this reason, FDRPs are in high demand throughout Australia and is an excellent career path for mediation professionals.
To be qualified as an FDR practitioner you must meet the accreditation standards in the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008. The Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution will meet this requirement and allow the FDRP to issue section 60I certificates, which are required by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Entry Requirements
To gain entry into CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution a candidate must have:
An undergraduate degree or higher qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Law, Conflict Management, Dispute Resolution, Family Law Mediation or equivalent;
OR hold accreditation under the Australian Mediation and Dispute Resolution Accreditation System (AMDRAS);
OR hold the Mediation skill set from the Community Services Training Package (CHC);
OR can provide documented evidence of previous experience in a dispute resolution environment in a job role involving self-directed application of knowledge with substantial depth in some areas, exercise of independent judgement and decision-making, and a range of technical and other skills.
Qualification Description
This qualification reflects the role of family dispute resolution practitioners who provide services and interventions for families experiencing high levels of relationship conflict where clients may be involved in the family law system. They may work as independent practitioners or in larger agencies.
Dispute resolution in this qualification has a direct link to the provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008. Practitioners make high level, independent, complex judgements in highly specialised contexts. Some practitioner roles may also involve full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of own work as well as responsibility for broader management functions such as analysis, program planning, budgeting and strategy design.
To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed 50 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.
You may complete your fifty (50) hours under the supervision of one or more FDRPs and may be done within the community sector or with a private FDRP.
Alternatively, students may choose to undertake our online Clinical Course to achieve this requirement at an additional fee.
In Order to complete the (CHC81115) Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution, you must be assessed as competent for the following units:
- Core Unit: CHCFAM001 - Operate in a family law environment
- Core Unit: CHCDSP001 - Facilitate dispute in family law context
- Core Unit: CHCDSP002 – Adhere to ethical standards in family dispute resolution
- Core Unit: CHCFAM002 – Work with a child focused approach
- Core Unit: CHCDFV008 – Manage responses to domestic and family violence in family work
- Core Unit: CHCDSP003 – Support the safety of vulnerable parties in dispute resolution
- Elective: CHCFAM007 – Assist clients to develop parenting arrangements
- Elective: CHCFAM008 – Work within a child inclusive framework
- Elective: CHCPRP006 – Lead own professional development
- Elective: CHCDF013 - Manage domestic and family violence and abuse screening and risk assessment processes
Applicants who hold a Bachelors in Law, Social Work, Psychology, or, a current AMDRAS qualification may choose to do 6 core units of the 10 CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution. By doing only 6 core units, the applicant will achieve a Statement of Attainment for those 6 core units to be presented to the Attorney General’s office along with a copy of their Bachelor or AMDRAS qualification with their FDRP application. Applicants who do all 10 units will receive the CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution in its entirety.
Please see www.training.gov.au for all training unit contents and descriptions.
Enquire Now
Fill out the enquiry form, we'll get back to you within 24 hours. You can also phone 1300 633 428 to enquire about places on this course. Alternatively, you can email us to arrange a call back from Jason to discuss your requirements.
Occupational titles for these workers may include:
- Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
- Aboriginal family consultant
- ADR practitioner
- Barrister mediator
- Dispute resolution facilitator
- Family and couples mediator
- Family law mediator
- Family relationships mediator
- Indigenous family facilitator
- Manager of an ADR service
More information on becoming a family dispute resolution practitioner can be found here.
*some information utilised in this page has been obtained from the Attorney General’s website. © Commonwealth of Australia 2015
Feedback
"I would like to offer a few parting words as graduating student and share with those who are considering studying your Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution – FDR that this online course is the real deal, technically innovative, supported by an advanced learning curriculum portal that offers a simple step-by-step click through to the latest industry research and information at your fingertips.
It is a simple study formula that offers professionals who are considering taking the FDR learning journey to a whole new level. You will not be disappointed.
For those who are up for the challenge and who are motivated by self-learning this is for you: driven by industry quality standards in terms of course content, guidelines, process, study, assignments, assessment, theory and practice reflections, real life mediation role plays with coaches who are very experienced and knowledgeable in the field of FDR mediation."
Michael Lenihan, International Freelance Consultant, Dip International Mediation
More Information
Applicants who hold a Bachelor in Law, Social Work, Psychology, or, a current NMAS qualification may choose to do 6 core units of the 10 CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.
By doing only 6 core units, the applicant will achieve a Statement of Attainment for those 6 core units to be presented to the Attorney General’s office along with a copy of their Bachelor or NMAS qualification with their FDRP application.
Applicants who do all 10 units will receive the CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution in its entirety, which will be the only qualification needed for the FDR application.
CHC8115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution. (10 Units)
- Completion Time: Average 8-12 Months (work at your own pace)
- Delivery Mode: All Online
- Assessments: Varied - Multiple Choice, Questions/Answers, Written, Online Role-play, Webinars
- All textbooks, materials, assessments, and awards are included all in one fee
- All units are reported on to the Department of Education through NCVER and USI system
- Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution - Post Graduate Certificate issued
- Completion of study counts for 1/3 of Master of Conflict and Dispute Resolution with James Cook University
Tuition Fees
Corporate Discount $11,900
Family Relationship Centres, Universities, Law Firms, Government Organisations and Corporate Companies qualify for a Corporate Discount. Australian Business Number must be provided.
Corporate Discount Fee as stated above: $11,900.00
Download Corporate Enrolment Form
OR
Base rate $13,820.00
Weekly Payment Rate
Individual Students and corporate entities can choose to submit their fees on a weekly basis via direct debit as they engage the study.
Weekly Payment Plan as stated above:
Enrolment Fee Upon Enrolment: $1,500.00
Plus Weekly Direct Debits upon start of study: 44 weekly payments of $280.00 each.
Download Student Enrolment Form
Note: No GST is charged for Nationally Accredited education.
Email us to request an enrolment form.
6 core units ONLY of CHC8115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution
The minimum requirement by Attorney General's office to be registered FDRP. Must accompany a Bachelor in Law, Psychology, Social Work or a Registered NMAS Qualification.
- Completion Time: Average 6 Months (work at your own pace)
- Delivery Mode: All Online
- Assessments: Varied - Multiple Choice, Questions/Answers, Written, Online Role-play, Webinar
- All textbooks, materials, assessments, and awards are included in only one fee
- Statement of Attainment for 6 core units only of CHC81115 Graduate Diploma issued
Tuition Fees
Corporate Discount
Family Relationship Centres, Universities, Law Firms, Government Organisations and Corporate Companies qualify for a Corporate Discount. Australian Business Number must be provided.
Corporate Discount Fee as stated above: $9,000.00
Download Corporate Enrolment Form
OR
Weekly Payment Rate
Base Rate: $10,180
Individual Students and corporate entities can choose to submit their fees on a weekly basis via direct debit as they engage the study.
Weekly Payment Plan as stated above:
Enrolment Fee Upon Enrolment: $1,500.00
Download Student Enrolment Form
Plus Weekly Direct Debits upon start of study: 31 weekly payments of $280.00 each.
Note: No GST is charged for Nationally Accredited education.
Email us to request an enrolment form.
Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Diners Club accepted.
Please enquire about special tuition fee rates for Family Relationship Centres. Get in touch here.
It is an advantage to you to discuss how we might best assist you, your pre-qualifications and where you might like to direct your path after the qualification has been obtained. Your pre-qualifications will determine your tuition fee for the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.
The Academy is set up to assist you in choosing the most direct and effective pathway to your desired career in the mediation industry.
All major credit cards are accepted.
Online Practical Supervision Clinic – 30hrs
The Mediator Training Academy now provides a specialised online clinic for you to receive 30 hours of your work placement requirements.
30 hour online clinic plus 20 hours supervised practical work
Our new online clinic will totally satisfy 30 hours of the placement requirement which is necessary in order to be compliant for the Core Unit - CHCSP001: Facilitate Dispute Resolution in the family law context. I.C.E.S. provider code 22487
The ICES and the Mediator Training Academy 30 hour totally online placement clinic will require:
- Participants to be available for times and dates as scheduled.
- Participants to take 5 weeks to complete.
- Only 9 participants to be accepted for each 30 hour placement clinic.
- All material to be recorded and assessed.
- Coaches to be assigned to participants.
- Participants to have competently completed at least the first 3 Units of the CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.
- Be aware that the first 9-person clinic will probably start in late Feb. 2020.
- Understand that the 30 hour online work placement clinic will consist of the following:
- One Master Class
- 4 weeks of mediations
- One week of case briefing
Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for this 30 hour placement program will be $3,750.00 (excl GST) It will require a $1,500.00 (excl GST) deposit upon enrolment with the balance due 30 days prior to commencement.
ICES and the Mediator Training Academy will recommend and refer a number of providers to provide participants with the remaining 20 hour supervised practical work program. (separate tuition fee may be required).
Please note
As before, students are welcomed and encouraged to organise their own 50 hour placement. If you intend to organise your own placement, you need not concern yourself with this alternative clinic.
Please contact Jason if you would like to reserve a place in this clinic:
Pathway to a Masters of Conflict Management and Resolution
The Mediator Training Academy is delighted to announce that the pathway to the Master of Conflict Management and Resolution with James Cook University has been finalised.
MTA students who complete the CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution will receive credit for 4 subjects of the Master qualification – this equates to one third of the Masters requirements.
This is a tremendous opportunity for our graduates and unique to the Australian mediation industry.
Successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution allows graduates to register with the Australian Attorney Generals department to become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Registration time is now... For more information on the Master’s Program please click HERE
