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About Us
CJCs have operated a mediation and conflict management service for the people of NSW since the pilot program was established in 1980, operating under an Act of State Parliament (the Community Justice Centres Act, 1983).
Services
CJCs contribute to the safety and harmony of communities by improving individual, group and community responses to, and resolution of, conflict. We provide quality mediation and conflict management services for metropolitan and regional New South Wales. Our services are free, confidential, impartial, accessible, easy to use and voluntary (we also accept mandatory court referrals).
The services we provide are:
CJCs use mediation as the preferred method of dispute resolution and has a success rate of approximately 80% of cases which proceed to mediation.
MediationMediation is people coming together to discuss the issues in dispute.
Mediation sessions at CJCs are conducted by two impartial, trained mediators who help people to understand each other’s point of view and to work together to reach an agreement acceptable to all.
The mediators manage how the mediation session is run. The people in dispute decide what is discussed and what is agreed upon.
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Conflict ManagementConflict Management is the overall management of a community dispute by a neutral third party, from the referral stage to the ultimate resolution. The objective is to resolve the disputed issues, by agreement, to the satisfaction of the disputing parties. The conflict manager cannot adjudicate or direct the parties but may make decisions on process and procedure with the prior consent of both parties. The methods, techniques and processes used in conflict management may include any/all methods of ADR including the conduct of interviews, negotiation, the conduct of meetings, facilitation, mediation, arbitration, facilitated negotiation, referral for specialist advice, decision making on processes and procedure, lobbying and/or liaising with other stakeholders, neutral supervision and advice/guidance on process and procedure.
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Dispute CounsellingWe provide advice about how to resolve disputes or prevent them from occurring. When contacting CJCs a Mediation Advisor will listen to your concerns and will talk with you about what has been tried and what happened. They will also discuss:
- current options
- new options
- outcomes
- negotiation strategies and communication techniques
- how mediation can help resolve disputes.
We do not provide legal advice, though we can assist you by providing information on organisations that do. Information on fencing and issues relating to neighbours extracted from the Law Handbook are available and can be posted to you on request.
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FacilitationFacilitation is a process in which the parties (usually a group), with the assistance of a dispute resolution practitioner (the facilitator), identify problems to be solved, tasks to be accomplished or disputed issues to be resolved. Facilitation may conclude there, or it may continue to assist the parties to develop options, consider alternatives and endeavour to reach an agreement. The facilitator has no advisory or determinative role on the content of the matters discussed or the outcome of the process, but may advise on or determine the process of facilitation.
TAMTechnology Assisted Mediation works with the aid of teleconference facilities and offers opportunities to provide mediation to remote areas and to others in the community isolated by distance or disability.
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Community Education Is the promotion of CJCs and mediation by providing:
- Broad mediation information
- Specific dispute management strategies
- Referrer & community education
Programs
CJC's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Program
The CJCs Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Service was established in 2002 as a pilot. Recruitment and training of Indigenous mediators in Northern NSW was completed in January 2003. Fourteen participants (12 based in the Northern region and 2 in the Western region) successfully completed the training and are now accredited mediators for CJCs.
The aim is to provide an improved service to Indigenous communities.
The A&TSI mediator program in northern NSW will be evaluated in 2004 through funding gained from the NSW Dept of Education & Training Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Program. The service will be expanded to cover the Sydney, and southern region of NSW. More >>
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Consultative Mechanisms
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Network
The CJCs Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Network was established to provide advice and support to CJC management with issues pertaining to the provision of CJC services to Indigenous Communities.
Professional Reference Group
The purpose of the Professional Reference Group (PRG) is to provide support and advice to the CJCs to ensure a Mediation and Conflict Management service to regional New South Wales which conforms with best practice principles and which is the recognised industry leader in Mediation and related Conflict Management process. More>>
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