LGBTQ+ Mediation for Schools

Each of us has a right to education and training to help develop the knowledge and skills we need to lead productive and meaningful lives. And that right extends to learning in an inclusive, discrimination-free environment. It’s a well-known fact that children and teenagers do better at school when they feel safe and welcomed by their peers, teachers and the broader school community.

Our mediation expertise and skills support LGBTQ+ identifying children and teenagers facing issues at school as well as Rainbow families with children at school. We provide a safe space and inclusive environment for dispute resolution involving parents, students and school staff. As LGBTQ+ identifying mediators, we apply our expertise and skill to help all parties navigate the challenges faced by school students and LGBTQ+ families in a balanced, neutral and judgement-free environment. We apply our understanding of the nuances around sexual orientation and gender identity through lived experience and with a trained and experienced teacher also as part of our team, we bring empathy and understanding to the navigation of these issues within the school environment.

Our mediation process involving LGBTQ+ dispute resolution in schools

The goal of mediation is to provide a confidential process where an independent and neutral mediator helps people and organisations in conflict reach an agreement acceptable to both parties.

Our tailored approach to mediation involving LGBTQ+ issues that arise in schools impacting students, parents, teachers, principals and the broader school community follows a structured mediation process with the additional goals of:

  • Being committed to outcomes that foster a safe and inclusive school environment for LGBTQ+ students, families, teachers and staff
  • Clearly identifying steps for the implementation of agreed to actions arising from commitment to a safe and inclusive school environment for LGBTQ+ students, families, teachers and staff
  • Adopting and implementing forms of communication (public or private) agreed to by the school relating to actions and commitments reached in mediation
We are confident we can help with the entrenched and emerging issues faced by LGBTQ+ identifying students, parents, Rainbow families, teachers, principals and support staff in Australian schools.

How we can help

Our LGBTQ+ identifying and experienced mediators assist students, families, teachers and staff with issues relating to:

  • Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status
  • Bullying on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status
  • Issues relating to the provision of a positive, supportive, safe and respectful school environment
  • Privacy and confidentiality issues in relation to disclosure
  • Support for students and teachers through the process of transition or affirmation of gender identity in schools
  • Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and intersexism issues relating to bullying and harassment in schools
  • Impact of forced participation in school activities based on gender identity or assumed heterosexuality (school formals, camps, sports and curricular activities)
Each dispute scenario is different with a unique set of considerations and desired outcomes. To each mediation we bring lived experience through our LGBTQ+ identity, and we understand better than most, how critically important it is to provide a safe, non-judgemental space for mediation to take place.
Find out more about the mediation process HERE

Benefits of mediation vs court

Face to Face Mediation + Online Mediation

At Fresh Start Mediation we offer face to face mediation or online mediation.

We assist parties to resolve disputes in an environment that is informal, neutral and fair, so that agreements reached are durable and long-lasting, offering parties peace of mind to move forward into the future.

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Online mediation offers a practical and accessible alternative to face to face mediation for parties who do not reside in the same location or do not wish to be in the same room for their mediation.

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Getting started with an intake session

The mediation process begins with an intake session, which occurs on a separate day prior to the mediation.

The pre-mediation intake session is a separate and confidential meeting between the mediator and each individual party. It can happen over the phone, online or as an in-person meeting. Each party must go through the intake session individually before we can proceed to the mediation.

The purpose of this first step is for the mediator to understand the circumstances of your situation and dispute – what brought you to mediation, what you hope to achieve from mediation and anything else we may need to know about you and your situation that could impact the mediation. For example, whether you feel comfortable being in the same room as the other party, or whether you prefer online mediation. The more we know about your situation, the better placed we are to facilitate the mediation successfully.

The intake session also gives us a chance to go through each phase of the mediation process with you, ensuring you understand exactly what to expect on the day.

The intake session also gives the mediator the chance to assess whether your dispute is appropriate for mediation. Instances where mediation may not be an alternative to the courts would be in the case where there is a serious safety concern via an emotional, physical or psychological threat to one of the parties, or if one party flatly refuses to participate.

As a starting point, we encourage you to give us a call and have an obligation-free chat about mediation and how it may be suited to your situation.

Start the mediation process by booking your intake meeting HERE

Give Fresh Start a call for an obligation-free discussion

At Fresh Start Mediation we understand you will probably have some questions. Fill in your details HERE and one of our team will give you a call, otherwise you are welcome to call us.

Fresh Start Mediation services the whole of Australia, offering face to face and online mediation options.