A Family Group Conference brings family members and their support network together to make a plan for someone who needs care or protection, often a child or young person.

Professionals explain the concerns and any safety requirements. The family then has private time to develop a plan, with an independent facilitator organising the process.

The facilitator works with your family to identify who should be involved. This may include parents, grandparents, extended family, close friends and other trusted people.

Relevant professionals may also attend to share information. Safety requirements and individual circumstances help determine who takes part.

The process is intended to be voluntary. How it is offered and what happens if you decline can vary between programs and locations. Ask the person who referred you or your facilitator to explain your options.

The facilitator prepares everyone, organises the conference and guides its stages. They help participants understand the concerns and what the plan needs to address.

Their role is to support a fair process. They do not make the family plan or decide where a child will live. Ask about their independence and relationship with the referring agency if you have concerns.

These are requirements the family plan must meet, sometimes called bottom lines. For example, there may be restrictions on where a child can live.

The referring agency should explain these clearly before the conference so your family knows what it can decide.

The facilitator helps identify the practical questions your plan needs to address. For example:

• Where will the child live?
• Who will help with school, appointments and daily care?
• What support does the family need?
• What will happen if the arrangements cannot continue?

The facilitator speaks with children and young people beforehand about how they want to contribute. Depending on their needs and circumstances, they may attend, bring a support person, ask someone to speak for them or share a letter, drawing or recording.

The preparation process considers their safety, comfort and preferences.

The family has time to discuss the concerns and develop its own plan without professionals leading the discussion. Agreed support people may remain where needed.

The facilitator is available for assistance but does not take over the discussion or write the plan for the family.

A shared meal can help people connect before the family develops its plan. The facilitator discusses food and cultural preferences with the family during preparation.

The plan needs to address the concerns and meet the agreed safety requirements. Where agency approval is required, the agency checks the plan against those requirements. If something needs to change, the family may be asked to revise that part.

Your facilitator can explain the approval process for your conference.

Your facilitator should explain what information is private, what will be recorded and what may need to be shared. Requirements and limits vary between programs and locations. Ask for these to be explained before agreeing to take part.

Preparation may take several weeks because the facilitator meets with participants before the conference. The conference itself often takes most of a day, depending on the family and the issues being discussed.

The agreed plan is recorded and shared with the relevant participants. It should identify who will do each task and when. A contact person and review arrangements help everyone follow through and check whether the plan is working.

In mediation, the mediator guides discussions between people to help them reach an agreement. Family Group Conferencing includes private family time, when the family develops its plan without professionals leading the conversation.

Family Group Conferencing is commonly used in child protection. It can also support planning in other settings, including disability support and elder care. The process and its suitability depend on the program and family circumstances.

If a child protection service has referred your family, ask your caseworker about the facilitator arrangements.

You can also look for an FGC facilitator in the Mi directory or contact Mediation Institute for guidance.

Training helps you learn the FGC model, prepare participants and facilitate a conference. Employers and referral programs may also require relevant experience and other selection criteria.

Explore the Mi Family Group Conference Facilitator Training.

No. Mediation accreditation is not a prerequisite. The training is designed for people with relevant experience working with families, including community services, child protection, social work and dispute resolution.

If you have no experience working with families in complex situations, contact us before enrolling.

The course is fully online. It combines 11 learning modules with three live workshop sessions and takes approximately 40 hours in total.

You complete online learning and practise through activities, discussions and role plays. View the course outline and workshop dates.

You receive a Certificate of Completion after meeting the course requirements and finalising payment.

This records completion of the training. It is not a Statement of Attainment or a guarantee of employment or panel appointment. Check the requirements of any organisation or panel you want to work with.

The training covers assessing referrals, identifying family and support networks, preparing participants, including the voice of the child, clarifying safety requirements and facilitating the conference stages.

It also covers documenting plans and arranging follow-up and review.

Some facilitators work independently, while others work through organisations or combine both. Opportunities and engagement requirements vary between programs.

Mi membership offers professional support, including complaint handling, peer supervision and professional development. Explore Mi membership.

Programs operate through government agencies and community organisations. Names, referral processes and ways of engaging facilitators vary between states, territories and providers.

Check directly with the organisation you are interested in working with for current requirements.

See the training page for fees , Mi member pricing and payment options. You can also contact us to request an invoice.

Yes. We offer training options for organisations. Contact us to discuss your team size, preferred delivery arrangements and a quote.