Open Forum

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  • 1.  New Mediator - How to get experience

    Early Adopter
    Posted 22-11-2022 05:47 PM
    Hi,

    I was accredited as a mediator in March 2022 and run a sole trader mediation business. I noticed it has been difficult gaining traction with just the website. I made a post in Linkedin as well. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for getting work as a new mediator. I would like to get the 25 hours minimum completed in 2023. I have tried to get on a court panel but my application was declined due to lack of experience. I have a public profile on the RI website but there hasn't been any referrals through there. 

    Kind regards, 

    Sharlene Kuruppuarachchi

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    Sharlene Kuruppuarachchi
    Coburg VIC
    415361926
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  • 2.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    Early Adopter
    Posted 23-11-2022 05:35 PM
    Hi Sharlene, 

    Did you do the NMAS training?  What is your background? 

    You will need to do substantial marketing to attract clients if you have only just qualified. 
    A website on it's own won't do much in the short term, until it has been on the web for a year or two and the spider/crawlers find key terms on your site so that people searching will find it.  You also need to make sure you have good SEO on your site... so that pages include keywords that people are likely to find. You need to identify your possible target audience - and work out how you will engage them. You probably need to do that practically (distributing brochures, advertising in papers, journals, community centers, emails etc; and on social media. Do you have a FB page? other social media? Have you done any FB advertising? do you have a Google business page? you can also do formal advertising online through Google. 
    You can also seek input from professionals who specialise in marketing and website SEO. 
    Hope that helps
    Regards
    Jane

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    Jane Silbereisen, FDRP, NMAS
    Conciliate SA, Adelaide, SA
    M: 0422 977 227
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  • 3.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    Early Adopter
    Posted 23-11-2022 08:42 PM
    Thanks Jane. I did my mediation training through the Dispute Settlement Centre and was accredited through the Resolution Institute. My background is as a lawyer in criminal law and civil law. I have made a post on Linkedin about the mediation service but I haven't advertised through other avenues.

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    Sharlene Kuruppuarachchi
    Coburg VIC
    415361926
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  • 4.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    Early Adopter
    Posted 24-11-2022 08:39 AM
    I recall that when I did my first training as a mediator the tip from the trainer was 'don't give up your day job!'.

    The better tip was to look for opportunities in dispute resolution generally not just mediation to gain experience and exposure.  I started in the complaint handling area and used my mediation skills in this area then went on to building a network in dispute resolution and mediation.

    My other tip is to gain some good knowledge in a particular area.  This will help create a profile.  For example, if you have good rural knowledge you could look at Farm Debt Mediation or if you prefer, say finance, look to financial advisers etc to gain exposure.  Don't try and be all 'mediation' things to all people.

    It is not easy but success will come.  It's all about self-promotion because nobody else will do it for you.

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    Trevor Slater
    Resolution Institute
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  • 5.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    I'mLinkedIn
    Posted 24-11-2022 06:51 PM
    Edited by David Chin 24-11-2022 06:53 PM
    Hi Sharlene,

    You may also find the new member resource kit useful.
    New Member Resource Kit

    And our mentoring program as well which is on this platform. 
    Mentoring


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    David Chin
    Membership Manager
    Resolution Institute
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  • 6.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    I'mLinkedIn
    Posted 25-11-2022 08:05 AM
    Dear Members,

    Please note that the links are based on our old website and we are in the process of revising the links to correspond to the new website and we will upload the new document soon.

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    David Chin
    Membership Manager
    Resolution Institute
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  • 7.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    I'mLinkedIn
    Posted 28-11-2022 11:04 AM
    Hi Sharlene
    As a trainer for Res Inst based in NZ I am often asked this question. Trevor has given you some pearls of wisdom. Here are a few more:
    - tell everyone you know that you are now an accredited mediator: a good chunk of my referrals over the decades have come from people I already knew, sometimes a recent contact and sometimes a university contact over 3 decades ago.
    - have a lot of coffees, connecting with contacts or making new ones. Practicing mediators in your areas of interest can be really helpful too.
    - get a supervisor whether it is paid or a peer arrangement; it can be excellent motivation to keep working towards your goal
    - offer to roleplay for Res Inst, this is a very good way of keeping your skills fresh
    - volunteer at your local citizen advice bureau, make contact with local sports or community groups, rest homes.
    - offer to facilitate meetings for free unless paid work available 
    - keep active on LinkedIn, write pieces on DR, look at media for matters that could be dealt with by mediation and write about the benefits of DR
    - join any panels appro for your skill
    - get involved in your local Vic Res Inst group
    - look for paid part-time work in DR. In NZ a number of Govt/Quasi Govt Depts employ/contract mediators
    - keep involved with Res Inst. Watch the webinar series regularly and watch the library, excellent learning here.
    All the very best.

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    Anna Quinn
    Mediator / ADR Consultant
    Anna Quinn & Associates Ltd
    Herne Bay
    021 360 074
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  • 8.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    Posted 29-11-2022 12:02 PM
    Hi Sharlene

    In addition to all the above great suggestions,
    I suggest that you have a separate Mediation business card.
    contact local and other community and business groups and offer to speak on mediation related topics at their regular meetings.
    Connect with other lawyers and offer your services as a mediator. 
    I believe that Victoria has a Community Justice Centre and they usually recruit oncall mediators. They are excellent in providing you with the experience through a range of various types of disputes and they use co-mediation model which means you are working side by side with an experienced mediator.

    good luck

    Abe Quadan

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    Abraham Quadan
    Options Mediation Services
    Illawong NSW
    0412 460 373
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  • 9.  RE: New Mediator - How to get experience

    I'mLinkedIn
    Posted 30-11-2022 08:33 AM
    A number of wonderful suggestions. Wish I'd asked for them those tears ago.
    Let me wish everyone the best

    A S G Photiadis

    Lawyer/Mediator