Mediation for Schools

We all have a right to education and training that will develop the knowledge and skills we need to lead productive and meaningful lives. 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. Positive relationships and open communication can make a real difference to the school’s culture, the student experience and educational outcomes.

A flourishing and inclusive school community is made up of a diverse range of students, teachers and parents with different backgrounds, values, needs, expectations and anxieties relating the school and education experience. These differences can sometimes lead to conflict and dispute on a range of levels, presenting a challenge for schools and the wider school community to manage and resolve conflict constructively and positively.

Unresolved conflict in schools can impact learning and the positive experience of school through low motivation, poor focus and disruptive behaviours. Conflict on all levels can be destructive and lead to long lasting impact, especially for the students impacted directly, as they move into adult life.

Our mediation experience and background in education, ensures we bring understanding and empathy to disputes involving parents, students and school staff. We offer structured and tailored mediation services for schools to assist resolution of conflict between:

  • Teachers + parents
  • Teachers + students
  • Students + their peers
  • Parents + their peers
  • Teacher + teacher
  • School Administration + parents
We apply our expertise judgement-free, encouraging teachers, parents and students to work collaboratively to resolve conflict between them.

How we can help

Our experienced mediators assist to resolve conflict arising between the following people:

  • Student to student

    Bullying and harassment, school yard violence, name-calling, friendship dynamics, property issues and fighting

  • Parent to school

    Student management, class allocation, grades and workloads, personality clashes, individual student needs, school environment

  • Teacher to student

    Workloads, behaviours, responsibilities, communication

Each dispute scenario is different with a unique set of considerations and desired outcomes. Managing conflict with skill and insight promotes a culture within the wider school community of active problem-solving, trust, safety and communication.

Find out more about the mediation process HERE

Benefits of mediation vs court

  • Fast + efficient

    Mediation usually takes between a half and full day, which is much faster and more efficient than going through the court system.

  • Confidentiality

    Mediation is a confidential process held in a private setting. Matters heard and decided in court are generally reported and remain on the public record.

  • Informal + flexible

    Mediation is an informal process where the mediator acts as a supportive and neutral presence for both parties. Courts are formal, intimidating and the process can be difficult to follow.

  • Cost-effective

    Mediation costs significantly less than going through the court system and prevents parties from spending thousands of dollars on legal fees.

  • Control

    Mediation allows parties in dispute to participate directly in the process of reaching agreement giving parties more control over the outcome. In court, the outcome is decided by the judge.

  • Promotes communication

    Mediation promotes direct communication between the parties, helping them work together towards an agreement. In court, each party faces off against the other in an adversarial and combative environment.

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.