A counselling group sitting together in a circle talking.

Workplace mediation

Workplace mediation is a confidential and structured process used to help organisations resolve workplace issues and conflict.

Acting as an independent and impartial third party, we help to facilitate open discussions between employees, supporting them to defuse difficult situations and resolve disagreements.

This is a voluntary process in which all parties consent to participate.

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. situational issues
the issues or conflict do not involve misconduct or a breach of company values/policies, involving a formal investigation.

An independent facilitator can support employees in conflict to have a structured but informal conversation and work towards a resolution.

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 does the process work?

Before mediation

One of our qualified mediators will contact the stakeholder within the workplace who coordinating the mediation process, to discuss the issues and the context of the conflict.

Our mediator will then contact each party involved and conduct a pre-mediation consultation process, to ensure that mediation is appropriate for the situation and individuals involved. This involves asking questions about the workplace dispute to obtain more information, enhance your understanding of the mediation process and identify if any further supports or considerations are needed.

If mediation is considered to be 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 who are in conflict. Mediators don’t 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 and manage the process and ensure the ability of the parties involved 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 is complete, our mediator will notify the organisation’s key stakeholders to advise 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.