Leave of Absence – NMAS Accreditation
This article explains the provisions for a Leave of Absence and Suspension of a NMAS Accreditation if you are not working as a mediator and can not comply with the requirements for re-accreditation.
This post is relevant to NMAS accredited mediators.
Leave of Absence
According to the NMAS (page 7 – 4 Leave of Absence)
A mediator may seek a leave of absence on the basis of:
- health
- career or
- other special circumstance
To do this you must provide evidence to Mediation Institute or your Recognized Mediator Accreditation Body (RMAB), if you are not accredited through us, of the following:
- the special circumstances that apply in your case
- the length of time you are seeking leave for.
Just want to renew?
What happens if Leave of Absence is granted?
For periods of 12 months or less
If your application is approved we must:
- Remove your name from the NMAS Register for the period of leave of absence
- Extend your accreditation period by the length of time that you had the period of absence
For periods longer than 12 months
If your application is approved we must:
- Remove your name from the NMAS Register for the period of leave of absence
- You must comply with the requirements to have your accreditation re-instated.
Requirements for re-instatement of accreditation
When you are ready for re-instatement after a period of leave of absence, lapsed or suspended membership you must provide the following information:
- the date from which you were first granted accreditation under NMAS and the period of leave of absence or date that your accreditation lapsed or was suspended.
- Meet the approval requirements set out in Section 2.1 of the NMAS
- Meet the renewal requirements described in Section 3 in the two years prior to the date that you are seeking re-instatement from
- If you can’t meet the requirements due to not practising or not participating in professional development you will be required to be re-assessed for competence and/or participate in gap training and re-assessment
- Meet any special conditions imposed at the time of your suspension or leave of absence
- You will be re-instated from the date that we determine you have met the requirements for accreditation.
- You can only take advantage of this opportunity once every 4 years i.e. you can’t request a leave of absence for every holiday you take.
Backdating Requests
We are not permitted to approve an application for leave of absence that commences more than two months prior to the day upon which application for leave of absence is made.
There isn’t a special form for you to use for a Leave of Absence request.
Just send us an email to members@mediationinstitute.edu.au or use the pop up at the right to get in touch or the form on our contact us page.
Call us on 1300 781 533
The NMAS contains the rules – get it on the Mediators Standards Board Website.
You can find more information about Mediation Institute Membership and renewal forms on the Join Mediation Institute page.
