President’s Report 2008

• Thanks to the wonderfully collaborative spirit, continued support, commitment and hard work of the Board and many of its members, ADRA has had another successful year in 2008.
•  The year began with a successful planning session early in the year where we outlined events for the year, set the monthly meeting dates for the board and seminar topics and activities for members.
• Highlights
• Guide to Good Practice in Complaints Handling for Mediation Practitioners
• Practitioner’s Networking Meetings were initiated to enhance the ADRA’s services to its practitioner members
• ADRA registered as a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB)
• ADRA’s submission for the 10th National Mediation Conference
• ADRA Life Membership
• Complaints handling
•  After much hard work the Complaints Handling Forum, under the expert leadership of Vice President, Katherine Johnson, completed a Guide to Good Practice in Complaints Handling for Mediation Practitioners. The Forum included many of NSW’s leading practitioners who actively participated throughout the year long development process.
• Many thanks to all members who assisted in developing the guide. I particularly want to thank Katherine Johnson who initiated the Forum and steered it through many very lively debates. Thanks to Debbie Jamison who gave us very expert assistance in writing the document with other members of the writing sub-committee including Amelia Taeuber and Salli Browning. Thanks also to David Holst who was an enthusiastic contributor throughout the process. In September the Guide was presented to the National Mediator Accreditation Committee’s (NMAC) Complaints Handling Sub-Committee where it was well received not only as a well written and thought out document but also due to the comprehensive consultative process undertaken in its development.
• Practitioners Networking Meetings
• This year the Board instituted networking meetings for ADRA’s practitioner members. The first networking meeting was held in April. It was very successful and Board members received positive feedback from many who attended. Due to its success, the second networking meeting was held in July and again was well attended. The meetings gave practitioner members the opportunity to catch up with colleagues, discuss issues and identify future areas of interest. We expect these meetings will continue in 2009.
• Conference Submission
• Another highlight of the year was ADRA’s submission for the 2010 National Mediation Conference. ADRA was not successful in its bid. However, it was always considered as the basis for another possible ADRA conference in 2009 following the success of the last conference held in 2007. I consider the conference bid to be one of ADRA’s successes because it was another example of the wonderful collaboration between the Board and ADRA members coming together working hard to develop a substantial and valuable document. Special thanks to Fran Doyle.  Fran provided professional input from Legalwise Seminars Pty Ltd and gave us her time and valuable knowledge and experience in developing the bid. Thank you to Andrea Cotter-Moroz for her contribution and hospitality and thank you again to the Board members who contributed to the process.
• RMAB
• Another milestone for ADRA in 2008 is its registration as a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB). The adoption of the complaints handling process, outsourcing the accreditation process to LEADR and advising members they require professional indemnity for national accreditation means that ADRA can now add the national mediator accreditation service to those provided to its practitioner members at no extra cost. Details will be posted on the website.
• Seminars
• Along with all these other activities ADRA continued providing professional development seminars. All seminars were well attended. The topics included:
• Holistic Mediation, Michelle Brenner
• Implementation of Family Dispute Resolution legislation NSW, Tom Altobelli
• Ethical Living, Vera Ranki
• Consumers, Health Care & Complaints Handling, Julia Lines (HCCC) & Sally Trevena (SOCAP)
• Narrative Supervision, David Newman & Michelle Brenner
• The Power of Sorry, Renee Williamson, Chairperson, NSW Reconciliation Council, Chris Wheeler, NSW Deputy Ombudsman and Bronwyn Penrith, Aboriginal Mediator, Family Dispute Resolution.
• My thanks to all the presenters who generously shared their time, knowledge and experience.
• Membership of the National Mediator Accreditation Committee (NMAC)
• ADRA was represented at the two NMAC meetings held in Canberra and Perth. ADRA is also represented on two NMAC sub-committees – Complaints Handling and Practice and Compliance working groups.
• Life Membership Awards
• In November last year the Board initiated a new life membership award and the first two recipients in November 2007 were Sir Laurence Street and Micheline Dewdney. Another life membership will be awarded this year.
• Members of the Board and Associates
• A special thank you to Emma Matthews and ACDC who continued to generously support ADRA in so many ways. Thanks to Micheline Dewdney who continued her role as a consultant to the Board and Ann Fieldhouse who provided her expertise and assistance to the Board throughout the year.
• Finally I want to express my gratitude to all my fellow board members for their hard work and support. Katherine Johnson who in her role as Vice President continued to apply her enthusiasm, knowledge and energy in furthering ADRA’s interests. Janice McLeay who not only diligently undertook the role of Treasurer but also took on the important roles of chairing the Complaints Handling Writing Sub-Committee and the Conference Submission Committee. Sally Trevena who continued to work hard as Secretary. Michelle Brenner who has been the soul of the Board reminding us of the higher meaning of the work we undertake in dispute resolution. Peter Irving, Emma Mathews, Mark England, Allan Parker, Val Sinclair, Tom Kelly, Robert Lopich all of whom provided valuable support, knowledge and hard work in the effective operation of the ADRA Board.
• Paula Castile
• President
• ADRA Board Members 2008
• President – Paula Castile
• Vice President – Katherine Johnson
• Deputy Vice President – Robert Lopich
• Deputy Vice President – Allan Parker
• Treasurer – Janice McLeay
• Assistant Treasurer – Michelle Brenner
• Secretary – Sally Trevena
• Assistant Secretary – Mark England
• Membership – Peter Irving
• Assistant Membership – Tom Kelly
• Events Coordinator – Emma Mathews
• Assistant Events Coordinator – Val Sinclair