Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner

A family dispute resolution (FDR) practitioner is an autonomous individual who assists people. They aid people who are undergoing separation or divorce in order to resolve their parenting issues.

In order to be a Family dispute resolution practitioner, one needs to meet certain standards. These standards must exist in an FDR practitioner in order to be competent while assessing and screening families. These screenings include family violence and child abuse.

A person can become an FDR practitioner if he meets certain standards in the Family Law Regulations 2008, which includes being assessed for competence in units that involve assessing families and screening for child abuse and family violence.

Process for accreditation

Once you have gained relevant qualifications and adherence to the criteria, you must meet the other accreditation criteria. And after completing it, you can apply to this department for accreditation.

1.Fill the application form for accreditation as a family dispute resolution practitioner.

2. Producing the fact  sheet for more information on the process

3. The specific obligations under the Family Law Regulations 2008 act. After you become a full time Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) practitioner

Standards for Accreditation

The criteria for accreditation include:

• having suitable competencies and credentials
• it has access to a suitable grievance mechanism which makes it useful to the client’s needs.
• having a national police check every four months
• not being under any restriction under law of a state or territory from working with children
• get in contact with the ‘working with children’ requirements in the state or territory. The places where you provide such services.
• being suitable to perform the role and obligations of an FDR practitioner, and
• A condition of accreditation is covered by expert indemnity insurance.

Qualifications and competencies

A person who is to become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner must be required to meet criteria for accreditation relating to competencies and qualifications, which includes assessing families and competency in screening for child abuse and family violence.

Normally, competencies are achieved through training which includes an administrative center for assessment. This is under undeviating surveillance in order to demonstrate competency in delivering services to clients. This includes the clients who are under harm by family violence.

Practitioners can meet this accreditation requirement by:

• completing the full Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (or the higher education provider equivalent)
  or
• have a proper and capable requirement in the 6 mandatory units from the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (or the higher education provider equivalent)
  or
• having competed, under the National Mediation Accreditation System, the ability in the 6 essential units from the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (or the higher education provider equivalent) i.e. CHC80308.

One also has the option to achieve units of competency for the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution. This is through a certified Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or a higher education provider.

The qualifications will be accepted for accreditation if the qualification is on or before 7 June 2017. The Graduates with the units of ability from CHC80308 will also continue to be accepted.

If the practitioners are included in FDRR on 30 June 2009, they will meet the requirements. They must also achieve competency before July 1, 2011.

National Mediator Accreditation System

Mediator Standards Board website gives Information about the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS).

To become an accredited FDR practitioner, one needs to have certificates u/s 601 of NMAS.

Higher education equivalent qualification

Higher education providers allow certificates to this department that their postgraduate course or units are equivalent to those of the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.

The below mentioned higher education providers have verified courses or units which they offer prior to the cessation of the course (on 7 June 2017) which were equivalent to the 6 mandatory units of the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (CHC80308):

• Bond University
• James Cook University
• Queensland University of Technology
• The College of Law.

Statements of attainment for these courses are a surety for acceptance for accreditation.

The institutes providing higher education have certification courses or units. They offer are equivalent to the 6 mandatory units of the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (CHC81115):

• Bond University
• Queensland University of Technology
• The College of Law.

Advantages of Family Dispute Reslolution practitioner

• A family dispute practitioner handles the relationship between 2 people amicably.
• A FDR practitioner provides speedy justice than courts
• They are flexible and give the parties right to decide. The parties then must decide whether to accept or reject the decree.
• FDR practitioner maintains confidentiality and privacy, allowing the parties to be open with other options.
• They also help to reduce the cost of parties as they have control of the entire process.
• A family dispute resolution practitioner can connect to the parties on a level that makes them trust him. This helps in better resolution of the dispute.
• They also help in determining what suits the requirements of the family.
• Family dispute resolution is best for people who parents to visit their children after dispute.
• A family dispute resolution practitioner can settle the matters before they get ugly.

Our Conclusion

Family dispute resolution practitioners help greatly process in a family law dispute. They ensure safe and informal way of dispute resolution. They also protect the confidentiality of the family. The popularity of Family dispute resolution practitioners in family law disputes is growing very fast. The parties get an opportunity to try and resolve their dispute by discussion. This makes them more aware of the proceedings of the case. Due to the control over the proceedings, it ensures the satisfaction of parties when the FDR practitioners listen to their opinions. They try to reach an answer which is suitable for both of them. Also, if the parties do not reach an impasse by the outcome of FDR practitioners, they always have another door open to them to reach out to the Court.