GPD Mediator and FDR Training

30/04/2026

Advanced Mediation Practicum.📖
We are offering a 2-day Advanced Mediation Practicum for experienced mediators and dispute resolution practitioners.

The program is practical and reflective, with participants bringing a de-identified real case for discussion and engaging in focused conversations about practice challenges, skills development, and constructive peer feedback.

The workshop also explores obstacles that arise in mediation, the skills and techniques required across each stage of the mediation process, reflective practice, and socio-cultural considerations when working with diverse communities, including CALD and First Nations contexts.

For practitioners who meet the eligibility requirements, completing the course and assessment provides a pathway to apply for AMDRAS Advanced Mediation Accreditation (Level 2), which is a valuable addition to their accreditation for both the practitioner and the Organisation.

Dates: 18th and 19th June
Delivery: Live, via Zoom
Cost: $1,000
Eligibility requirements: 4 years+ of accreditation and 150+ hours of mediation practice.

For more information and to register your space, visit our website: www.gpdtraining.com.au/amdras

19/04/2026

Preparation and mediation together are what change the dynamic of the ‘we’ll just take it to court’ mentality.

Preparation can help each person feel heard. It’s a good time to really explore their fears, concerns, agitations, etc., without judgement. Most people don’t understand mediation and feel they are just coming to negotiate an outcome - or to have someone say “you’re right”.

The exploration process in mediation, if done well, can leave people feeling surprised, as they get an opportunity to learn the 'why' behind the other person's position. Just understanding this can make a significant difference for each party. When your intake comes from a place of curiosity, it can invite participants to share the underlying motivations and values influencing their stance and help mediators uncover the roots of each person's concerns and open up more productive conversations.

Sometimes people appear very set and on a course, but when you make sure everyone is supported in intake, very few people will still feel the same way they did when they started. The kids stop being collateral damage, the lawyers can do what they're fantastic at, and the room becomes a place where something workable can actually be built.

If you’d like a fresh approach or new insights on changing the dynamic in your intake sessions, we’re running a one-day training on Wednesday, 6th May, delivered live via Zoom.

Your trainer is a leading mediator with decades of experience in family, workplace, commercial and community mediations, offering real-world insights into creating effective Intake sessions. You’ll build rapport with industry colleagues, dissect case studies, participate in conversations, and gain a new level of confidence and ideas to implement with your clients. This full-day training is only $495, and you can register on our website:

14/04/2026

Replaying the conversation in your head for hours. Over-analysing every word, wondering what you should have done differently. We've all been there.

And for people who do intake every day, that feeling can be even more frustrating.

Because it is not that you do not know what you are doing. You do. You have had hundreds of conversations. You know how to build rapport, ask questions, and keep things moving.

But even with experience, there are still moments that catch you off guard.

A client says something subtle, and only later you realise how much sat underneath it.
A response closes down when it could have opened up.
A key detail is shared, but the opportunity to explore it properly passes in real time.

That is the thing about intake work. Experience matters, but so does refinement.

The more often you do it, the more you realise this work is not just about getting information. It is about knowing how to listen for what is not being said, respond with intention, and guide the conversation in a way that builds trust and uncovers what really matters.

That is exactly why this masterclass matters.

Not because you are new.
Not because you are doing it wrong.
But because even skilled professionals can sharpen the way they listen, question, and respond.

Inside this Intake training, I’ll give you the tools, the skills, and the confidence to handle these moments in the moment - so you never have to feel this way again.

Register now and join us on Wednesday, 6th May, live via Zoom: https://gpdtraining.com.au/products/masterclass/

08/04/2026

What if the most important skill in mediation isn't anything to do with what we say?

In this article, I explore why this is one of the most powerful professional tools a mediator can develop to reduce defensiveness, build trust, and create the conditions for resolution.

In mediation, strong communication is often treated as the gold standard. We are taught to ask better questions, manage difficult conversations, reframe positions, and guide parties toward constructive dialogue.

04/04/2026

Taking the time for walks, fresh air and recharging after a busy week of meditation and training. What are you up to this Easter weekend?

03/04/2026

Intake. When it's done right, it makes a massive difference for the parties - and the mediator.

We run Intake training a couple of times a year, because it's just so valuable to anyone who does intake and wants to make sure they get it right from the get-go.

Previous attendees tell us that this training made them more aware of ways to get more than the basic answers to questions - and to make sure they're asking the right questions, and listening for those small giveaways that previously came back as missed clues when they were reflecting on where things could have gone differently in the mediation session.

Intake is more than ticking a checklist of questions, and complying with Mediator codes / standards. It's about creating a solid base to start from, knowing how to turn the non-mediatable to mediatable. Done well, it provides both parties with an understanding of the process, and builds trust in process - and the mediator.

For the mediator, this is the opportunity to understand the parties needs in mediation, any emotional constraints or special needs, cultural sensitivities, and suitability to mediate.

In our GPD Members chat group, questions on Intake are some of the most common, and it's always great to see the suggestions offered by others on how they've approached similar scenarios.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in intakes?

02/04/2026

One intake question I’ve come back to repeatedly over 20 years:

“What does a good outcome look like for you - not just in terms of what you’ll get, but in terms of how you’ll feel when this is behind you?”

It slows people down.

It shifts them from position to need.

And it tells you something important about what this dispute is really about.

Simple. But rarely asked.

31/03/2026

“I should have picked that up earlier”

One of the most uncomfortable moments as a mediator is this:

Realising in the session that something important should have been picked up earlier.

It’s rarely obvious at the time.

A comment that seemed minor.
A hesitation that didn’t feel significant enough to explore.
A dynamic that only becomes clear once both parties are in the room.

By then, you’re no longer preparing the mediation - you’re managing what’s already unfolding.

This is the part of mediation that often gets missed:

The work you do before the session shapes how much control you have during it.

When have you felt this?

25/03/2026

Something I notice in every professional development conversation I have with mediators at the moment: more people are asking about AMDRAS.

Not because it’s new - but because it’s becoming a reference point that clients, employers, and referral sources are starting to recognise.

If you’ve been considering national accreditation, I’m curious: what’s been holding you back?

Genuinely asking. The answers I get usually point to something I haven’t addressed well enough in how I talk about this pathway.

25/03/2026

Save $400 on AMDRAS - ends 31st March

AMDRAS accreditation is the key to adding professional credibility, court recognition, and real mediation income - and after GPD Training, you’ll feel confident to step into real mediations.

Register now for early bird pricing and save $400.

Training dates: 20th - 23rd July AND 27th & 28th JulyFormat: 6 days | 45 contact hours | 2 trainers | delivered live via Zoom

🔹Week One: Monday 20th - Thursday 23rd July 2026

🔹Week Two: Monday 27th - Tuesday 28th July

🔹Time: 9am - 5pm (Qld)

🔹 Includes a 2-hour role-play assessment - recorded so you can complete at your leisure

🔹 Delivered by 2 trainers: expect strong support and feedback throughout the six days

Early Bird pricing (save $400)

$4,100 — Early Bird ends 31 March
$4,250 — 1 April to 30 May
$4,500 — from 1 June onwards

If you’d like to secure your future at the lowest rate, the next step is to register now. Visit www.gpdtraining.com.au/AMDRAS