SERVICES &
PROGRAMS
SERVICES & PROGRAMS
Dhulawang’s First Nations Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation Service provides access to culturally safe family dispute resolution and mediation services. Our services are free for First Nations families living in Kempsey and on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. You may be separating, separated, have a dispute or disagreement, or have a difficult decision to make. We facilitate confidential conversations and create a safe space on Country where parties can make arrangements that are confidential and in the best interests of children.
WHAT IS FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION?
We facilitate confidential conversations and document agreements about children.
We can help where there is a disagreement about children in your family or that you provide care for.
Our Family Dispute Resolution Service helps Aboriginal families create their own agreements about parenting and property, that are in the best interests of the children involved.
FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICE
FOCUS AREAS
Cultural
Safety
- Provide a culturally appropriate Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation service to First Nations families
- Create a safe space for truth telling
- Provide a range of options for family dispute resolution and mediation – in person, on phone, via teams, zoom or facetime or a mixture of all
- Work to understand and respect the culture and dynamics of the Thunggutti / Dunghutti community
- Develop a Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation Service that incorporates relevant cultural considerations, including the importance of cultural identity, into its processes
Co-Design with
Community
- Ensure our service is co-designed with local cultural authorities
- Ensure local culture informs the Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation processes
- Ensure our service reflects the diversity of First Nations people, cultures and values within community
- Work in partnership with community to avoid a ‘one size fits all approach’
- Consult with local First Nations people on how a culturally appropriate FDR and Mediation Service based on Thunggutti / Dunghutti Country should operate
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners & Mediators
- Train and increase the number of First Nations Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Mediators
- Provide a platform for First Nations Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Mediators to deliver a culturally appropriate service.
- Acknowledge the complex social networks and obligations that exist in First Nations communities to manage conflicts of interest within our Family Dispute Resolution / Mediation Team
- Ensure cultural integrity by respecting the knowledge that First Nations Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Mediators may bring to the Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation processes
Family &
Kinship
- Our service embraces the concept that ‘family’ for First Nations people is broader and more expansive than in Western culture
- The concept of ‘family’ includes extended family members, kinship relationships and other community relationships where they have a care connection to the family, child, or children
- We understand that deep connections exist between family and kinship groups and that we need to carefully check for conflicts of interest to ensure that you are comfortable with the people on your mediation team
- Your information is only accessible to the mediation team members you agree to work with
FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICE
OBJECTIVES
Dhulawang’s First Nations Family Dispute Resolution Service:
exists to provide culturally safe family dispute resolution and mediation services
facilitates confidential conversations so parties can resolve family arrangements in the best interests of children
defines 'family' beyond the notion of the nuclear family to include broader kinship networks
makes provision for multiple parties to be involved in the family dispute resolution and mediation process and understand that additional time, travel allowance and resourcing may be needed
