Keep Track of Your Professional Development

Your professional development requirements depend on the type of work you do. This guide explains the main requirements for AMDRAS Mediators, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Family Group Conference Facilitators.

Practitioner type	Professional development	Practice hours
AMDRAS Accredited Mediator	25 hours every 2 years	20 hours every 2 years
AMDRAS Advanced or Leading Mediator	25 hours every 2 years	40 hours every 2 years
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner	24 hours every 2 years	No separate FDR practice-hour requirement
Family Group Conference Facilitator	24 hours every 2 years as a Mediation Institute membership expectation	No separate Mediation Institute practice-hour requirement

AMDRAS Mediators

AMDRAS Mediators must complete both CPD hours and practice hours. These are separate requirements.

What can count as AMDRAS CPD?

Category	Maximum	Examples
C1: Education and conferences	20 hours	Live webinars, workshops, seminars and conferences. Conference attendance is limited to 10 hours.
C2: Structured peer reflection	7 hours	A structured discussion with peers about mediation cases and practice.
C3: Supervision or coaching	8 hours	Receiving professional supervision or coaching about practice issues.
C4: Providing professional development	15 hours	Presenting, mentoring, coaching, supervising or assessing others.
C5: Related professional CPD	5 hours	Relevant learning in law, behavioural science, social science or another professional field.
C6: Role playing in training	4 hours	Participating in role plays in approved AMDRAS-related training.
C7: Representing clients	4 hours	Representing or supporting a client in dispute resolution. No more than two hours for each process.
C8: Self-directed learning	5 hours	Recorded webinars, podcasts, reading and other private study.
C9: Publications and research	8 hours	Writing articles, blogs, reports or participating in research. No more than four hours for one activity.
C10: Other approved activities	5 hours	Another activity approved through the AMDRAS process. Check with Mediation Institute before claiming.

Live and recorded webinar example

You attend a two-hour live Mediation Institute webinar: record two hours under C1.
You watch the webinar recording later: record the activity under C8.
You watch eight hours of recorded webinars: only five hours can count towards your AMDRAS total because C8 is capped at five hours.

Example AMDRAS CPD plan

A mediator could reach 25 hours by completing:

15 hours of live training under C1
5 hours of recorded webinars under C8
3 hours of professional supervision under C3
2 hours of structured peer reflection under C2

Total: 25 hours

AMDRAS practice hours

Practice can include work as a mediator, co-mediator or third-party dispute resolver.

Your practice total can also include up to five hours of intake and preparatory work and up to five hours observing a more experienced practitioner.

Practice-hours example

An Accredited Mediator could meet the 20-hour requirement with:

12 hours conducting mediation
4 hours of intake and preparation
4 hours observing an experienced practitioner

Total: 20 practice hours

Leading Mediators: At least 10 of the 25 CPD hours must be completed under C4 by providing professional development, mentoring, coaching, supervision, assessment or professional leadership.

Specialist Practitioners: Specialist CPD and practice hours are included within the overall AMDRAS requirements rather than added on top. Additional requirements apply to the proportion completed in the specialist area. Contact Mediation Institute for guidance about your specialisation.

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners

Accredited FDR Practitioners must complete at least 24 hours of relevant education, training or professional development every two years.

Your professional development must include learning about family violence during each two-year period.

Examples of FDR professional development

family violence and safety training
family law or relevant case law updates
FDR workshops and conferences
relevant professional supervision
training that improves how you provide FDR services

Regular work providing FDR services does not count as professional development.

FDR example

An FDR Practitioner could complete:

6 hours of family violence training
10 hours of FDR workshops
4 hours of family law updates
4 hours of relevant professional supervision

Total: 24 hours

Read the current guidance for accredited FDR Practitioners

View the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025

Family Group Conference Facilitators

Mediation Institute expects FGC Facilitator members to complete 24 hours of relevant professional development every two years.

This may include FGC training, child protection updates, family violence and safety training, culturally responsive practice, supervision, mentoring and structured peer discussion.

What records should you keep?

For each activity, record:

the activity title and provider
the date completed
the duration
the category, where relevant
what you learned
supporting evidence, such as a certificate, registration email, agenda or link

For AMDRAS practice hours, record the date, type of work, duration and a non-identifying matter reference. Do not include confidential client information.

Track your progress in MiMembers

Keep your CPD and practice records up to date throughout your reporting period. If you hold both AMDRAS and FDR accreditation, check the reporting dates and requirements for each.

Track your hours View upcoming events

Need help?

Contact Mediation Institute if you are unsure which requirements apply or which category to use.

Contact Mediation Institute Read the current AMDRAS Standards

This page provides general guidance. The current AMDRAS Standards and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025 take precedence if requirements change or there is any inconsistency.