AMDRAS Mediator Accreditation study guide
AMDRAS Mediator Accreditation · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
AMDRAS accreditation is the Australian credential for mediators, administered under the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards. The AMDRAS Board is responsible for the development and implementation of those standards, which cover mediator training, accreditation, professional practice and registration. The AMDRAS Mediator Accreditation study guide has 4 sections and about 1,081 words.
01Mediator Training: Building Competence Before Accreditation
Accreditation rests on demonstrated competence, and competence begins with structured training. Candidates should understand the core curriculum areas: conflict theory and the nature of disputes; mediation models and process stages (intake, joint session, private sessions, option generation, agreement); communication skills including active listening, reframing, summarizing and questioning; negotiation dynamics and interest-based bargaining; ethics and professional standards; the legal framework surrounding mediation, including confidentiality, enforceability of agreements and the limits of the mediator's role; and diversity, power imbalance and cultural awareness.
300 words, about 2 min02Accreditation: Standards, Assessment and Maintenance
Accreditation is a formal recognition that a mediator meets defined standards. Candidates should understand the typical components: eligibility (training hours, practice or co-mediation experience), assessment of competence (written knowledge tests, simulated mediation with observation, reflective practice or portfolio), and a decision by an accrediting body applying published criteria.
260 words, about 1 min03Professional Practice: Ethics, Process and Conduct
Professional practice centres on self-determination, impartiality, confidentiality and competence. Candidates must understand voluntariness, informed consent to mediate, managing power imbalances, avoiding conflicts of interest, and the duty to withdraw or refer when a matter is unsuitable, for example where there is family violence, incapacity or a legal issue requiring advice.
255 words, about 1 min04Registration: Records, Panels and Compliance
Registration is the administrative record of a mediator's accredited status. Candidates should understand what registers typically capture: identity and contact details, accreditation level or category, training and CPD records, practice experience, complaints and disciplinary outcomes, and currency of insurance or checks where required.
266 words, about 1 min