The forum starts at 9.30 am, tomorrow, Friday 13 July. It will be opened by Australian Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock. It has been organised by the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC), funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department.
Over 100 delegates from throughout Australia will attend. The program ranges from family law and family dispute resolution, including the special needs of children and immigrant communities, to negotiating information technology outsourcing agreements and dealing with the disclosure of adverse events in hospitals.
There are also sessions on victim-offender mediation, interpersonal and workplace conflict, peace and conflict resolution education in Australian universities and – while ‘in our own back yard’ – universities as dispute resolvers.
La Trobe University is a leader in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) teaching and research and has the largest postgraduate conflict resolution program in Australia. ADR is also a keystone subject in the University’s undergraduate law degree where students complete the Dispute Resolution unit, thereby combining intensive skills-based training in ADR with a review of ADR in various jurisdictions.
Tania Sourdin, Professor of Law and Dispute Resolution at La Trobe and member of NADRAC, says the rapid increase in ADR has redefined the role of lawyers in Australia.
Most who work within the civil litigation system are now exposed to ADR, and every court and tribunal in Australia has some ADR processes. This does not mean litigation is less important. A robust legal system is essential for ADR to operate effectively.
ADR comprises structured negotiation, mediation or arbitration. Mandatory pre-litigation schemes make ADR – rather than courts – the first port of call for most disputants and their lawyers.
Government, industry and the private sector have developed schemes such as the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Australian Banking and Financial Industry Ombudsman. In the family sector, sweeping changes now require ADR to be used early in most disputes.Thursday, 12 July 2007La Trobe hosts national forum on Alternative Dispute ResolutionLa Trobe University’s Conflict Resolution Research Centre is hosting a two-day National Alternative Dispute Resolution Research Forum on its City Campus, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne.
For further information, please see program, attached, or contact conference facilitator, Dr Samantha Hardy, phone: 0407 140 860 today, or Friday, 03 9285 5201.
For further background on recent developments in ADR please see :
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin/archive/1006/news5.html