A Thrilling New Event Series for Mediators!
What happens when mediation meets mystery, debate, and high-stakes decision-making? Welcome to The Mediator’s Dilemma, an interactive event series that takes you to the heart of some of the toughest dilemmas mediators face.
Inspired by Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals, each session immerses you in a fictional yet realistic mediation scenario filled with ethical quandaries, unexpected twists, and moments where the path forward isn’t clear. As the story unfolds, you’ll face the same challenges as the mediator in the story.
Get ready to dive into the messy, fascinating, and rewarding world of mediation like never before.
The dilemmas are real.
The stakes are high.
And the answers?
That’s up to you.
Your role
The facilitator will guide you through the unfolding drama, pausing at critical “dilemma moments” to ask for audience engagement.
Participants will be asked to consider:
- What factors do you see as important in your decision about what to do next?
- What else would you like to know?
- What would you do, and why?
- How would your decision impact the parties / your role as mediator / others?
Why attend?
- Discuss with fellow mediators from diverse backgrounds.
- Challenge assumptions.
- Sharpen your skills.
- Learn from differing perspectives.
- Prepare for real-world practice: Explore dilemmas inspired by actual mediation challenges.
- Engage your mind: Experience a captivating blend of mediation meets reality TV, choose-your-own-adventure, and CSI-type detective work!
- Build community: Connect with peers in a thought-provoking, collaborative environment.
- Have fun: Because learning should be as entertaining as it is enlightening!
Who's it for?
Mediators at all levels—whether you’re stepping into your first session or reflecting on decades of experience, The Mediator’s Dilemma offers something for everyone.
Our next session
12pm-2pm AEDT Friday 28 March 2025
When the mediator receives information from third parties
In a remote mediation office, you’re the sole practitioner navigating a property dispute that seems, at first glance, relatively straightforward. Emily and Michael are back for round two—after a failed attempt at mediation last year, they’re now focused on dividing their assets. With financial disclosures exchanged and a session booked, the process appears smooth—until an unexpected phone call changes everything.
It’s a small town. Everyone knows (almost) everything about everyone else. Suddenly you are finding out all sorts of things that seem to change the way this mediation should play out.
In The Mediator’s Dilemma, you decide what happens next. What would you do?
Your facilitator for this session - Peter Hanson
Peter is a Conflict Specialist, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with 20 years’ experience in conflict resolution.
He has worked for government sector and not-for-profit sector dispute resolution services delivering conflict resolution in workplace dispute, small claims, tenancy dispute, neighbour dispute, organisational dispute.
He is a specialists in parenting dispute and property settlement. Peter holds a Master of Conflict Management and Resolution and a Vocational Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution.
He is an Accredited Mediator with the National Mediation Accreditation Scheme and is a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Federal Attorney General.
Forthcoming sessions
10 April – Confidentiality: Expectations vs Reality – Samantha Hardy
8 May – Co-mediation – Judith Rafferty
16 July – Deciding whether to mediate – Carol Bowen
25 August – Power imbalances – Claire Holland
14 October – Power and triangulation – Catherine Davidson
28 November – Responding to escalating behaviour – Carol Bowen
Let the discussions begin!
Individual session
$97+GST
Annual pass
$299+GST
- Registration for all Mediator's Dilemma sessions (and recordings) for the year.
