Mediation is a structured, confidential process in which a neutral third party — the mediator — helps people in dispute reach their own resolution. The mediator does not decide the outcome. Instead, they manage the process: setting ground rules, hearing each party, identifying the real issues, and guiding the conversation toward workable agreement.

A typical mediation involves separate pre-mediation meetings with each party, followed by a joint session. Some matters resolve in a few hours; others take a full day or longer. Any agreement reached is voluntary and, where appropriate, can be put into writing.

Trauma-informed mediation is mediation conducted with explicit awareness of how trauma — past or present — affects how people communicate, make decisions, and experience conflict. It is not therapy. It is a way of running the process so that vulnerable parties are not retraumatised, dynamics of power and harm are visible to the mediator, and the conversation can actually reach resolution rather than collapse under pressure.

In practice, this means careful attention to pacing, language, physical or virtual setup, regulation of intensity, and the choice between joint sessions and shuttle mediation. Rebecca Lockwood specialises in this approach, particularly for matters involving institutional power imbalances, sensitive subject matter, or parties already affected by harm.

AMDRAS is the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards, the national framework that sets quality and conduct standards for mediators in Australia. AMDRAS replaced the earlier NMAS system in 2024.

An AMDRAS accredited mediator has met formal training, assessment, and ongoing professional development requirements, and is bound by a national code of conduct. For clients, accreditation matters because it signals that the mediator's training, ethics, and continuing competence have been independently verified.

CM1, or Conflict Management for One, is a structured one-on-one process developed by John Cleary for individuals who are in conflict but cannot, or should not, proceed to mediation. It is designed for three situations: when a party is not yet ready to mediate, when the other party refuses to participate, or when a previous mediation did not resolve the matter.

CM1 helps the individual map the conflict, understand their own role in it, identify what they can influence, and design a path forward. It is a certified process, distinct from mediation, and complements trauma-informed practice. It is personalised and practical and you leave with a tangible plan forward. The session is 2 hours. Rebecca Lockwood is a CM1 certified facilitator.

Fees depend on the complexity of the matter, the number of parties involved, the time required, and whether pre-mediation work or follow-up sessions are needed. Most half day engagements are approximately $2000-2500, with the final fee confirmed in writing after an initial consultation.

The free 15-minute consultation is the best place to start. It allows for an honest discussion of whether mediation is the right fit and what the realistic scope and cost of the process would be.

Half-day mediations run for approximately three hours and suit straightforward matters with two or three parties. Full-day mediations run for approximately six hours and are used for more complex matters or those involving multiple parties.

The total time commitment also includes pre-mediation meetings with each party — usually 30 to 60 minutes each — which take place before the mediation itself. Some matters resolve in a single session; others benefit from a follow-up.

Yes. Mediation is a confidential process. What is said in mediation cannot generally be used in later court or tribunal proceedings, and the mediator cannot be compelled to give evidence about what occurred. Confidentiality obligations are set out in a written Agreement to Mediate that all parties sign before the process begins.

There are limited exceptions — for example, where there is a serious risk of harm to a child or another person, or where disclosure is required by law. These are explained clearly at the outset.

Mediation is not appropriate in every situation. It generally is not suitable where there is active family violence or coercive control that cannot be safely managed, where a party lacks capacity to participate meaningfully, where one party is unwilling to engage in good faith, or where a clear legal precedent or order is needed rather than a negotiated outcome.

The initial consultation is partly a screening conversation. If mediation is not the right fit, this is identified early and other options — including CM1, legal advice, or referral to another process — are discussed openly.

Yes. Online mediation is conducted via secure video conferencing and follows the same structured process as in-person mediation, with breakout rooms used in place of separate physical rooms for caucus sessions. Online mediation is equally effective for most matters and removes geographic and travel constraints — particularly valuable for parties in regional WA, interstate, or overseas.

Lockwood Mediation conducts in-person mediations in Perth and online mediations across Australia and internationally, in English and Spanish.

Mediation and arbitration are both forms of alternative dispute resolution, but they work very differently. In mediation, the mediator helps the parties reach their own agreement and does not impose a decision. The outcome is voluntary, and parties retain control throughout.

In arbitration, the arbitrator hears evidence and arguments and then issues a binding decision, similar to a judge. Arbitration is faster and more private than court but removes the parties' control over the outcome. Mediation is typically preferred where the parties want to preserve a relationship, design a tailored solution, or retain autonomy over the result.

No, but you can. Whether legal representation is helpful depends on the nature of the dispute. For commercial, employment, or institutional matters with significant legal exposure, having a lawyer present or available for advice is often valuable. For community, neighbour, or interpersonal disputes, parties frequently attend without representation.

If you are unsure, the initial consultation can help you decide. Where parties are unrepresented, the mediator ensures the process remains fair, balanced, and informed throughout — but the mediator cannot give legal advice to either party.

Not every mediation produces a settlement, and that is not a failure of the process. Even where full resolution is not reached, mediation frequently narrows the issues, clarifies positions, builds understanding, and creates a foundation for later resolution — whether through further mediation, negotiation between lawyers, or formal proceedings.

Where mediation does not resolve a matter, parties retain all their legal options. Nothing said in mediation prejudices any subsequent process. In some cases, CM1 facilitation is a useful next step for one or both parties.