How do I keep track of my professional development?
Are you confused about your professional development (PD) requirements as a dispute resolution professional? This post will help you understand, as they vary slightly depending on your accreditations and registrations. Your hours are accumulated over a two-year membership period.
Access CPD and Resources with MiMembers.au
What are the PD requirements?
AMDRAS Mediators
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of 25 hours every two years.
Mediation Institute is a Recognised Accreditation Provider (RAP).
Your renewals are now under the AMDRAS Standards.
The table to the right shows the differences between the NMAS and AMDRAS Requirements.
AMDRAS Practice Hour Requirements
The introduction of the AMDRAS and the new three levels of accreditation in Australia has resulted in a bit more complexity regarding practice hours.
This table summarises the requirements for the different levels of accreditation.
It also points out that when Specialist Dispute Resolution Practitioners are added to the Standards there will be CPD requirements regarding them as well.
Pathways to Advanced and Leading Mediator
There are now protocols and the ability to apply to be recognised as an Advanced Mediator or Leading Mediator.
Due to the requirements regarding the number of years as an Advanced Mediator any applications for Leading Mediator recognition will require evidence of equivalent levels of professional practice, professional development and advanced standing in the industry.
Further information and an application process will be made available in due course.
Which standard to apply?
The AMDRAS Standards are now in place for everyone except those who were current students under NMAS at the time of the transition to the AMDRS on the 1st July 2025.
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners
Ongoing Professional Development (OPD) of 24 hours every two years based on your registration date or reinstatement date.
We ask you to provide this information as your complaint handling body. You may be audited by the Attorney Generals Practitioner Registration Unit during periodic audits.
Practice Hours
There is no mandatory requirement regarding practice hours for FDR Practitioners in the regulations. If you are not practising, you do have an obligation to inform the AG’s department.
Click this link to go to the Regs.
Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025
Regulation 18 Requirement to undertake continuous professional development
(1) An accredited family dispute resolution practitioner must:
(a) undertake at least 24 hours of continuing professional development that meets the requirements of subsection (2) during:
(i) the period of 2 years starting on the day the practitioner becomes accredited; and
(ii) each subsequent period of 2 years during which the practitioner is accredited; and
(b)make a record of each activity undertaken in compliance with paragraph (a), including a record of the days on which the activities were undertaken and the period of time spent in undertaking the activities; and
(c)keep the following for a period of 7 years:
(i) a record made under paragraph (b);
(ii) if a document provides evidence of the participation of the practitioner in an activity undertaken in compliance with paragraph (a)—the document (or a copy).
Note: Examples for subparagraph (1)(c)(ii) include a notice of attendance or a certificate for completing a course.
Family Group Conference Facilitators
There currently isn’t a formal accreditation system in place for Family Group Conference Facilitators.
As part of our membership requirements, we anticipate that our members will commit to completing 24 hours of professional development specifically related to Family Group Conferencing within each two-year membership period.
Professional development sessions will be accessible to Mediation Institute Members to support their growth and expertise in this area.
We encourage you to consider forming peer supervision discussion groups and look for opportunities to provide and receive real world experience by mentoring and assisting with conferences.
Join an event
All this and more is available for free for Mediation Institute members.
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