We act as an independent and impartial third party to facilitate open discussions between employees, supporting them to defuse difficult situations and resolve disagreements.
Mediation can help in situations where:
- Employees are in conflict or experiencing other issues in the workplace, such as misunderstandings, differing opinions, or other workplace-related issues.
- The issues or conflicts do not involve misconduct or a breach of company values/policies requiring a formal investigation.
An independent facilitator can support employees in conflict to have a structured, yet informal conversation and work towards a resolution. This is a voluntary process where all parties consent to participate.
For individuals, teams, and workplaces, mediation helps:
- Minimise conflict and stress
- Improve communication and relationships
- Increase productivity and foster higher-performing teams
- Reduce staff turnover and associated costs
- Avoid escalation of issues and lessen the risk of formal complaints Improve overall morale and a more positive work environment
Our expertise
Relationships Australia Victoria has over 40 years' experience delivering mediation and family dispute resolution services. Our mediators are qualified professionals with at least 2 years' experience and expertise in workplace mediation. They are nationally accredited by the Attorney-General's Department or the National Mediation Accreditation System (NMAS).
How the process works
Before mediation
When a workplace issue or conflict arises, your first step towards a resolution is to reach out to Relationships Australia Victoria. We'll connect you with a qualified mediator to guide you through the process
An assigned mediator will contact the workplace stakeholder coordinating the mediation to discuss the issues and context of the conflict. Our mediator will then contact each party involved and conduct a pre-mediation consultation. This ensures mediation is appropriate for the situation and individuals, involves gathering more information about the dispute, enhances your understanding of the mediation process, and helps identify any further support or considerations. If mediation is considered appropriate and all parties consent to the process, the mediator will coordinate and schedule a mediation session.
During mediation
During the session, the mediator facilitates a structured conversation between the parties in conflict. Mediators do not control what is discussed; rather, the parties decide what to talk about and determine what decisions are made.
The mediator acts impartially and independently to facilitate the discussion, manage the process, and ensure the parties' ability to communicate and negotiate. Mediators do not provide legal advice, make decisions for the parties, or advocate on behalf of a party.
After mediation
After the mediation session, our mediator will notify the workplace key stakeholders that the session has been conducted. No details from the session will be shared.
If additional support is needed, we will discuss this with you at this time.
