Updated 27.8.2025
AMDRAS Update – August 2025
From Mediation Institute & the AMDRAS Board Newsletter
Mediation Institute is now a Recognised Accreditation Provider (RAP)
Mediation Institute is a Recognised Accreditation Provider (RAP) under the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS).
As a RAP, we can now process:
✔️ Accreditation Applications
✔️ AMDRAS Renewals
✔️ Administer Applications for Advanced Mediator Accreditation, Leave of Absence and Non-Practicing Certificates
This means that Mediation Institute members are fully supported and unaffected by delays that affect some other providers.
We are still waiting on the AMDRAS Board to provide us with a response to our Leading Mediator Special Framework application.
Transition Timeline – Key Dates You Need to Know
AMDRAS came into full effect on 1 July 2025, with the end of the 12-month transition period to support practitioners, accreditation and training organisations.
⏳ Exceptions & Extensions:
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🎓 Anyone enrolled under NMAS before 30 June 2025 → 24 months to complete from your enrolment date unless your training provider allows less time or you transfer to AMDRAS training.
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📑 Pending assessment (within 6 months of training completion).
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📝 Pending accreditation application (within 6 months of assessment).
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⚖️ Practitioners with an RMAB not yet approved as a RAP → remain nationally accredited until 31 December 2025.
Mediation Institute members are secure, as we are already approved to accredit and re-accredit under AMDRAS.
End of NMAS Training – Start of AMDRAS Training
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Our first AMDRAS training commenced in March 2025. We have a new group starting at the start of September – AMDRAS Training – Complete Your Certificate Of Training With Mediation Institute
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Last NMAS enrolments closed 30 June 2025.
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Both systems ran during transition, but now AMDRAS is the ongoing standard.
MSB is Now the AMDRAS Board
The Mediator Standards Board (MSB) has officially become the AMDRAS Board.
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Old website: www.msb.org.au (retiring soon)
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New website: www.amdras.au
The new AMDRAS website includes:
Highlights from the AMDRAS August 2025 Board Newsletter
Here are the latest developments:
📌 Recognised Providers
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Most RMABs have now transitioned to RAP/RTP status.
📌 New Accreditation Levels
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Accredited Mediator
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Advanced Mediator
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Leading Mediator
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Specialist accreditation (Elder Mediation – newly approved).
📌 Alternative Pathways
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Standardised under Clause 34 – no individual applications needed.
📌 Complaints Protocol
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RAPs with statutory obligations may adopt approved alternative complaint-handling frameworks.
📌 Marketing Checklist
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A guide for mediators updating materials post-transition. View here.
📌 National Mediation Conference (NMC 2025)
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Sydney | 🗓 21–24 September 2025
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AMDRAS Board is Principal Sponsor.
- Mediation Institute is Welcome Drinks Sponsor and will have a trade display at the conference.
📌 Industry-wide Mediator Survey
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Run by Resolution Institute.
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Open until 7 September 2025.
📌 AMDRAS AGM 2025
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Friday 14 November 2025 | Melbourne + Online option.
- Applications for board positions will open soon.
What You Need to Do
👉 If your former accreditation body has not transitioned to RAP status, you must transfer to an AMDRAS-approved RAP by 31 December 2025 to remain on the National Register, but we suggest you do so sooner.
✅ Mediation Institute members do not need to take action — your accreditation is secure with us.
Quick Links & Resources
🔗 AMDRAS Website
🔗 Recognised Providers Directory
🔗 National Register of Registered Practitioners
🔗 NMC 2025 Conference Info
🔗 RI Mediator Survey – closes 7 Sept 2025
For clarity or guidance on AMDRAS and what it means for you, please contact Mediation Institute – we’re here to support you. contact us
Frequently Asked Questions
The standards that govern Nationally Accredited Mediators has evolved and changed from NMAS to AMDRAS. AMDRAS seeks to uphold the basic standards, strengthen them in places and provide the opportunity for recognition of the level of experience and leadership provided by members of the dispute resolution community.
It will also, over time, allow for the recognition of specialist areas of practice.
No you’re not! If you were a NMAS Mediator you automatically transitioned to AMDRAS and will need to renew under AMDRAS at the end of your next renewal cycle. If you are a Mediation Institute member you can now fill in your renewal form on the Mi Members website www.mimembers.au/renew
If you are currently enrolled in NMAS training continue on.
You are able to complete your training and have the full time periods allowed in the NMAS (or by your training provider) to complete your assessment and accreditation processes.
Time to complete your training – we are contacting all NMAS students asking you to put in place a plan to complete your studies. If you are no longer active and not engaging, your course will be concluded. Use it or lose it!
You can enrol in our AMDRAS Certificate of Training. No new NMAS enrolments are possible after the 30.6.2025
AMDRAS Course – http://amdras
According to the June 2024 newsletter from the board
The Review was undertaken to ensure:
• users of mediation services could rely on the quality and consistency of services provided by accredited mediators,
• that mediation continues its emergence and development as a profession, and
• that the excellence and specialist skill of individual mediators can be appropriately recognised as this profession and its framework evolves.
The Board of Directors is confident that AMDRAS will fulfill these core objectives while strengthening our community’s commitment to professionalism and quality standards.
