GPD Mediator and FDR Training

For many people, AMDRAS accreditation is less about learning something completely new and more about bringing together the skills, experience, and knowledge they already have into a recognised mediation framework that provides confidence, credibility, and a clear pathway for practice.

Our AMDRAS Accreditation Training is delivered live over six days via Zoom and in person on the Gold Coast. Throughout the program, you'll learn how to structure and manage a mediation from intake through to agreement, maintain neutrality and impartiality, identify and respond to power imbalances, facilitate constructive negotiation, work within ethical and professional standards, and manage challenging conversations and conflict dynamics. There is a strong focus on practical application through role-plays, simulated mediations, case studies, group discussions, and real-time feedback, because we know that confidence develops through practice, reflection, and support rather than theory alone.

One of the things participants often tell us afterwards is that the training gave them clarity. It helped them understand not only what to do during a mediation, but why they were doing it. Throughout the six days, you'll have two experienced trainers supporting you, opportunities to ask questions, test your skills, receive feedback, and learn alongside a group of professionals who share an interest in helping people navigate conflict more effectively.

Our next AMDRAS training is:
Week One: 20-23rd July
Week Two: 27-28th July

If this feels like the right time for you to become AMDRAS recognised, you can find out more on our website www.gpdtraining.com.au

If you'd like to discuss the training or accreditation process, message us or email [email protected]

We'd love to support you on the journey.

If you want training that's about the outcome, not just the cpd points then have a look at our upcoming Training for mediators and FDRPs.

⭐️ AMDRAS Accreditation: 20-23 / 27-28 July
Price: $4,500
These six days reflect a strong focus on assessed, applied practice rather than theory alone. You’ll be expected to participate in role-plays, simulated mediations, case studies, and real-time feedback, with two experienced trainers supporting you throughout. AMDRAS training and accreditation provides you with a recognised mediation framework, credibility and a clear pathway to practice.

⭐️ Working with Domestic Violence: 10 August
Price: $495
Members Discount: 10%
CPD Points: 6
Practical, grounded, and built for the decisions you actually have to make - screening, process choices, reality testing, managing power imbalance, and knowing when to pause or stop.

⭐️ Workplace Mediation: 23 September
Price: $495
Members Discount: 10%
CPD Points: 6
Confidently manage workplace disputes using practical, best-practice frameworks.

⭐️ Intake for Results: 22 October
Price: $495
Members Discount: 10%
CPD Points: 6
Walk into every mediation prepared. Anticipate challenges, assess suitability, and guide outcomes with clarity.

⭐️ Property Mediation: 2 and 3 November
Price $1,000
Members Discount: 10%
CPD Points: 12
Over two days we delve deeply into the tools, frameworks, and real-world practices that will provide you with absolute clarity on how to mediate property matters with professionalism, authority, and empathy.

⭐️ Working with High Conflict People & Situations: 13 November
Price: $495
Members Discount: 10%
CPD Points: 6
Understand what drives high conflict behaviour, how to confidently manage the room and focus on outcomes.

One of the easiest traps to fall into as a mediator is trying to solve the problem.

It comes from a good place. We can see the patterns. We can hear the stuck points. We may even have a sense of what could help people move forward.

But mediation isn’t about us finding the answer.

It’s about holding the process carefully enough that the participants can slow down, hear themselves and each other more clearly, and begin to identify what might actually work for them.

That can be difficult, especially when emotions are high, positions are fixed, or one person is looking to the mediator to “fix” the situation.

But the skill is in resisting the urge to take over.

Because when we move too quickly into problem-solving, we can accidentally take ownership of something that belongs to the participants.

Good mediation requires patience, structure, curiosity and restraint.

And sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is not solve the problem, but create the conditions where the right conversation can happen.

What a fantastic two days of learning, discussion and practice in our Property Mediation Masterclass.

Property mediation is such a complex and important area of work for mediators and FDR practitioners. The legal framework matters, of course, but so does the ability to manage the process with confidence, hold the space when the issues are high-stakes, and support parties to work through difficult financial and practical decisions.

Over the two days, we explored the Court’s 4-Step Approach, key Family Law Act provisions, superannuation, trusts, add-backs, valuations, option generation, separate sessions, impasse, duelling experts and drafting agreements that hold.

But what made this training so valuable was the discussion in the room.

The questions,

The shared experiences,

The role-play,

The practical insights,

And each participant's willingness to really engage with the material made this a rich and rewarding two days.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Bobbi Reilly for leading the training with such depth, clarity and real-world experience.

It is always a privilege to support practitioners as they continue to build their skills, confidence and capability in this important work.

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

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:

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/

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.

The Skill Mediators Need Most Is Often the One We Talk About Least 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.

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?

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?