ELDER MEDIATION AUSTRALASIAN NETWORK - Key Persons
Alysoun Boyle has over 20 years experience in the dispute resolution field in Australia, practising predominately as a mediator. She is also an experienced and respected dispute resolution trainer and educator, and has experience ind disputes system design.
Having developed Australia's first statutory court-diversion program for opiate-dependent offenders, and overseen the creation of innovative approaches for limiting overly restrictive responses to opiate dependency, the move to dispute resolution was a natural one. Strongly committed to the principles of empowerment and self-determination, she "lives" them in her dispute resolution practice. Rather than wondering whether or not people are capable of making their own decisions, she asks: "What can I do differently that will will make it easier for these people to make their own decisions?"
Alysoun holds mediator accreditation under the National Mediator Accreditation Standards (NMAS).
She is a PhD candidate investigating the attributes of effective mediators, and is currently working on a separate research project with direct relevance to aged care dispute resolution and elder mediation.
Professional Affiliations:
Senior Mediator Member: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Job Titles:
- Professor Dale Bagshaw ( BA, Dip Soc.Stud., M.Soc.Admin, PhD, Adv.Cert.EM. )
Lise is a nationally accredited mediator and has worked for the NSW Community Justice Centre for the past eight years, mediating hundreds of disputes in a wide range of areas including neighborhood disputes, disputes over wills and estates, property disputes and workplace disputes. Since 2005, Lise has been a Guardian Ad Litem with the NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice, assisting people who lack capacity to participate in mediation, conciliation and litigation. Lise's work in law and mediation has spanned the life cycle. Starting out as a youth worker with homeless young people, Lise was drawn into restorative justice mediation and worked for 16 years as a Youth Justice Conference Convenor in NSW. Lise is particularly experienced in working with people who may lack decision making capacity.
Lise is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University where she convenes courses in ADR and legal ethics. Lise is the author of published articles and conference papers on elder mediation, decision making capacity, ADR and human rights. Lise is a founding member of the Australian Research Network on Law and Ageing.
Job Titles:
- Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Supervisor ( and Also Trainer, Workplace Mediator, Parent Educator ) at Anglicare WA
Anne-Marie is a senior mediator with Relationships Australia WA and lead mediator in the Peel Senior Relationship Program. She has thirty years' experience as a social worker in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland and Australia working in many diverse areas, including Mental Health and Aged Care.
Anne-Marie brings together her wealth of expertise and experience to her work with clients impacted by Elder abuse in the Peel region of Western Australia.
Qualifications :
Ian is an exploration geologist by profession and this work has involved extensive travelling locally and internationally and working in a diverse range cultural environments often requiring delicate negotiations He has been working as a mediator since 2000 primarily in the area of family law through Legal Aid NSW. Ian is an accredited FDRP and has recently completed training in Workplace Mediation and Elder Mediation
Judith is a consultant and mediator with over 18 years working in the field of conflict resolution. Alternative dispute resolution activities include individual and co-mediation and chairing dispute resolution conferences as well as investigation of disputes, providing coaching for mediation skills and training for organisations in conflict resolution as well as in developing processes to deal with conflict at work. She has experience in matters relating to corporate governance in organisations, both by working with boards and as a member and chair of several not-for-profit and private sector boards.
Judith is a nationally accredited mediator under the NMAS, and is an accredited FDRP.
Qualifications: MBA, LlM, BA. Dip App Psych, Dip Ed, Prof. Cert. in Arbitration
With significant counselling skill and experience, Kathleen brings to her work as a mediator and Essential Conversations Designated FacilitatorÒ a high level of empathy and an ability to work sensitively and effectively with families.
Kathleen has had many years of experience in the health sector as a nurse, midwife, counsellor and academic working with a diversity of people in the public, private and government sectors. Kathleen holds a BApSci and a PhD from Monash University with certificates in counselling, governance and is currently studying for her certificates in mediation and as an Essential Conversations Project Designated FacilitatorÒ. She is a member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the International Federation on Ageing
Kathleen's commitment to improving the lives of older people found expression in her work with the WHO and its Age Friendly Cities and Communities approach. Some of Kathleen's experience in issues of ageing includes her work with Council on the Ageing in Victoria and chair of the COTA Federation national approach to the development of Age Friendly Communities.
As an experienced, inspiring speaker and facilitator, Kathleen has presented at international and national forums on issues surrounding ageing, community engagement methods, and measuring organisational impact. In her academic career and beyond, Kathleen has published widely in a variety of formats. She has received awards for her personal qualities and contribution to families.
Job Titles:
- Doctor of Philosophy ( Law ), University of Sydney / Master of Dispute Resolution, University of Technology, Sydney ( UTS ) Master of Arts ( Philosophy ), University of Sydney
Brian Blaney has an education background as teacher, principal, supervisor, educational consultant and mediator and has worked with communities for 50 years. These experiences have enhanced the knowledge and skills that are drawn upon when assisting clients seeking help to resolve conflict.
Brian has undertaken several mediation training courses over the years culminating in further studies in the Grad Dip in Family Dispute Resolution program. He is registered with the Australian Attorney General as a FDRP and is a Nationally Accredited Mediator providing mediation and advice to individuals, families and others.
Brian has worked in both the public and private sectors of education and mediation and has been involved with training at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Brian has been a mediator (FDRP) since 2010 working with Relationships Australia and in private practice, Access Advocacy. He has conducted over 1200 hours of FDR and over 2000 hrs of information and assessment sessions. He is a regular visitor at an aged care facility and has conducted mediations involving both sets of grandparents, and grandparents and their daughters, sons and in-laws. Brian is interested in support and advocacy for people who have suffered abuse and has worked with adults coping with disability.
Brian presented the practicum element of a mediation course conducted by QUT for Brisbane Catholic Education for 3 years and provides demonstrations and coaching for new mediators with whom he works. He has also worked with Centacare and Uniting Church as a casual and sessional FDRP.
Job Titles:
- Regional Manager for Mediation With Family Mediation
Nicola is a Regional Manager for Mediation with Family Mediation and Counselling Victoria (FMC) and the lead mediator for FMC's Respecting Elders programme.
Nicola completed the EMAN training with Dale Bagshaw in 2016.
Nicola's experience mediating with Respecting Elders is that Family Consultants are the keys to this multi disciplinary service. The ir assessment of capacity, risk and which services clients would most benefit from are essential to this successful program.
As a nationally accredited, independent mediator, Rebecca Carroll-Bell brings parties together to find satisfying, durable solutions to their conflict. Based in Melbourne, RCB Mediation Services offers a personalised, flexible mediation and dispute resolution process.
Malcolm is a registered psychologist, a clinical supervisor of psychologists, a trainer and a nationally accredited mediator. Malcolm also practiced for 24 years as a lawyer, including 17 years as a barrister, mainly in the fields of personal injury law, insurance and family law.
Malcolm was formerly appointed as a mediator to the Supreme Court, the District Court and the Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW, and was a former member of the mediation committee of the NSW Bar Association. He participated in many mediations when he was a practicing member of the Bar.
Since retiring from the Bar in 2007, Malcolm has worked as a psychologist, delivering a variety of clinical services, and as a mediator. He now manages and leads teams of allied health professionals in the application of psychological practice within the contexts of the aged care, disability and forensic environments. He is the CEO of Assessment Squared, a psychological service that provides clinical, medico-legal and forensic assessments, and that provides mediation services.
As a mediator, Malcolm combines his training and skills as a mediator with his clinical expertise as a psychologist. He is able to apply appropriate questioning techniques, at appropriate times, to enable parties to explore options and consider all alternatives. He is very practiced in applying the facilitative style of mediation, in a variety of disputes.
Malcolm is available for mediation work in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle, and other areas in NSW by arrangement.
Connie Comber began her career with a Social Work degree from UNSW. She spent the first decade of her working life in the social service sector, including family counselling and community service design. She was commissioned by the Federal Government to undertake the first qualitative study in the retirement village industry in Australia.
Connie has spent many years gaining experience across different areas of the business world; consulting, senior corporate life, property and real estate; owning and operating her own businesses including as a business mentor and life coach.
Connie is a Nationally Accredited Mediator.
Connie has also supported her own parents through their major transition from independent times into supported living and all that entailed. She has been sought out by many friends' and their families during similar times to share her particular expertise and counsel.
Connie is devoted to putting the heart back into the business world and bringing out the untapped potential in difficult life change phases; to everyone's benefit.
Garth is a collaboratively trained financial adviser and is one of South Australia's most experienced collaborative divorce financial advisers. He believes in helping people to work through disputes in a supported and respectful manner. Garth has over 20 years' experience in the financial services industry encompassing small business lending, insurance and financial advising. He has worked as a specialist manager with large institutions, local credit unions and boutique advice firms building business structure, performance culture and client focused businesses and teams.
Anthea has been a chairperson with Victoria Legal Aid since November 2012 and with Legal Aid NSW since 2015.
Anthea worked for many years of her career as a bilingual consultant specialising in trade and investment with China, including working for consulting firms and the Australian Trade Commission. She then had a career change which led to completing study in conflict resolution in 2007.
She has worked in family relationships services as a manager and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner since then. She is currently completing her Masters degree in Family and Systemic Therapy.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant of Clear
Deborah Chee is a senior consultant of ClearSky Legal, and the principal of DSC Law Firm in Chatswood. She has been providing legal services to clients since 1998, chiefly in family law, wills and estate, and property law. Deborah brings to her practice a wealth of commercial knowledge and experience, having been a computer systems consultant and manager for large public and private corporations prior to admission as a lawyer. She is also a Public Notary and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Deborah is fluent in not only English, but also in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochiew, Malaysian, Indonesian and has assisted clients with matters originating from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Deborah regularly mediates on family law matters for Legal Aid NSW.
Deborah has been contributing to her local community in numerous capacities, including but not limited to, being on the executive committee for both the North Metropolitan Law Society and Inner West Law Society, speaking engagements as Law Society Speakers Bureau member, pro-bono work at Marrickville Legal Centre, DV and family advice for NSW Police local area command, Vice President with Chatswood Chamber of Commerce, Honorary Solicitor for Artarmon/St Leonards Chamber of Commerce, City of Willoughby Lady Mayoress Committee member/legal advisor and past member of Sydney Pacific Lions Club.
Naomi is an accomplished Senior Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, blending a legal background with extensive expertise in family mediation.
Holding a law degree and a graduate certificate in Family Dispute Resolution, Naomi is also a Nationally Accredited mediator, offering a comprehensive approach to navigating diverse family dynamics.
With a versatile career that spans roles as a Policy Advisor to the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Financial Assessor, and Freelance Writer, Naomi brings a unique perspective to the resolution process, fostering trust and openness through genuine empathy.
Dr Cate Banks began her career as a Registered Nurse and continued specialising in intensive care while studying law. While Cate works primarily as a conflict resolution professional she is a solicitor with an LLB (Hons), B. Com (Politics and Public Policy), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and a Ph.D in law. Cate holds numerous qualifications in mediation including a Grad Cert. Dispute Resolution, Vocational Grad Diploma FDR. Cate is a Nationally Accredited Mediator (AG's Dept) with LEADR, DRB (JAG) and Qld Law Society. Cate always provides individualised service to clients uses her communication skills to guide clients to build trust and confidence in the process that opening dialogue, whatever the outcome, will empower them to traverse the complex personal situations they may be facing.
After 15 years as an academic, Cate went into full time practice on her own as a consultant conflict resolution professional and an independent researcher. For two years she also managed a demanding Family Relationship Centre in an area of Queensland with a particularly high demographic of disenfranchised and disadvantaged clients from a CALD, Indigenous backgrounds and family and domestic violence (to name just a few). Many of these clients, entrenched in difficult family conflict following separation were also grandparents. It was during this tenure Cate developed a reputation as a specialist in elder mediation, both in the family law arena but in other areas of elder law. Cate uses a variety of techniques to engage older clients in conflict resolution.
Despite formally leaving academia Cate has continued to teach Postgraduate Studies, and convene courses in Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice and Conflict Resolution on a semi regular basis. She conducts research, consultancies and mediation training programs for many organisations throughout Australia including LEADR, Building Bridges, Queensland Public Interest Clearing House and the Dispute Resolution Branch, Justice and Attorney-General.
Cate was personally trained by Dr Don Beck in Spiral Dynamics Integral in the USA. Dr Beck is world renowned for his work in conflict and change particularly with Nelson Mandela and was integral to the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa. He is also well known contributor to peace negotiations in the Middle East. Cate attained SDi Levels I and II Certification as a trainer, she is now working with colleagues in South Africa and the USA to integrate Spiral Dynamics theory into the practice of integrative law and conflict resolution. Cate is one of the foundational members of the Global Alliance for Integrative Law which now spans every continent of the world.
Cate has worked in the not for profit sector for decades. She was President of the Management Committee of Ipswich Women's Centre Against Domestic Violence for several years and has worked with Catholic Prison Ministry and QPILCH in varying capacities in her role as a conflict resolution professional. Cate has conducted a number of independent evaluations of NGO services, mostly those focused on self represented litigants, homelessness, children with separated parents, domestic violence, family violence and family law, elder abuse and elder mediation. While Cate has a breadth of experience in mediation from community to court ordered, family and commercial, she continues to build a steady clientele of older people who are seeking a specialist mediator to engage in conflict resolution. Cate also regularly provides information sessions to community groups of older people.
Cate has published several articles in peer reviewed journals, has written a book and written several book chapters. She has presented at a variety of national and international conferences. This year she is presenting two papers at the AIFS conference in July 2014 and the National Mediation Conference in September 2014.
Cate is currently leading a unique supervision/self reflective practice program with a small number of colleagues in a mentor/supervision role. The aim of this work is to work with mediators to learn together the role we play as mediators when we work with people in conflict. The program is a personal and professional journey for mediators to benefit and harness skills and techniques to connect with deeper impulses, to self reflect effectively in order to provide best practice care for clients, particularly older clients, many of whom who require specialised care.
Job Titles:
- Joint Founder and Director of Mediation for Elders
Dr Frida Cheok is a joint founder and director of Mediation for Elders, which specialises in facilitating conversations involving older people on issues arising in the context of life transitions. Frida's focus is on helping participants talk through existing or potential problems with the goal of fostering ongoing relationships and building capacity to manage future conflict.
Frida holds a PhD in public health with over 30 years' experience in senior roles at the forefront of important new health initiatives in a range of areas, including ageing, cancer screening and mental health. Frida was project manager for the development of The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA), Australia's first multi-dimensional population based study of ageing commencing in 1992 with follow-up of the original cohort of participants to 2010. Assessment included physical and mental functioning, biochemistry and self-completed questionnaires. Other experience in ageing includes developing and evaluating new models of aged care service delivery. Her interest in factors contributing to the well-being of older people has continued as has her passion for using the power of communication to bring about successful outcomes in all her projects, from bringing together disparate parties and persuading them to work together to resolving disputes in both process and content matters. She brings together her interests and abilities as a facilitator to now focus on elder mediation.
Rene is a lawyer and nationally accredited mediator, currently working as the Senior Coordinator at the SA Family Law Pathways Network and as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with Relationships Australia. Rene is also a Chairperson resolving family law disputes with the Legal Services Commission and works as a Mediation Consultant with SHAW Mediation. Rene is trained in Elder Mediation.
Wendy is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and is a trained elder mediator. Apart from family mediation, Wendy is also a Learning and Development Consultant who has facilitated a number of experimental learning projects focusing on elder support; working in both Aged Care and Mental Health across both public, private and not for profits. She has a particular interest in supporting those living with dementia.
Job Titles:
- Director of Jim Cyngler Consulting
- Director, Conflict Expert, Principal Trainer
Jim Cyngler is the director of Jim Cyngler Consulting, which provides mediation services, facilitation and conflict management training to organisations and individuals both in Australia and overseas.
Jim has been actively engaged in Board membership and leadership of numerous Not-For-Profit Community Organisations. In 2009 Jim was awarded an OAM for services to the community. He is a Nationally accredited mediator and Principal instructor under the Australian National Mediation Standards. He is a member of the Victorian Bar.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor & Dispute Resolutions Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Coordinator With City of Salisbury
- Direct Communications
- Member of the Salisbury Safeguarding Older Adults Group
Mary is a member of the Salisbury Safeguarding Older Adults Group which has been responsible for developing the Division's policy, procedure and flow chart to assist staff in the identification of and response to cases of Elder Abuse. This initiative has been supported by extensive staff training and a commitment to build knowledge and awareness around safeguarding older adults.
Mary has worked with the Bhutanese Community for the last 6 years and over that time has greatly enhanced community members' access to information and resources around their health and well-being. This has included an understanding of their basic rights, and awareness around protecting themselves from all forms of abuse. In addition Mary has worked in a mediation role with individual community members, their families and (if appropriate) the broader community to support the resolution of complex health and support issues.
Mary is also well known in the community for her Visual Art work, poetry and published work - Mary actively draws upon her specialist field of knowledge in her work with women of different age group adopting her skills in promoting Inner women development. Her background is vast and she has acquired many academic and practical skills. Over the past 21 years Mary has tested, proved and refined her expertise in human and social services both in English and Italian contexts , with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Holistic Counseling and Preventive Health.
Paul Bartley is an experienced Mediator with a Masters Degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution.
Paul has conducted numerous mediations and is registered with, The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (SA), The office of Franchising Mediation, The Supreme Court of South Australia, Workcover SA.
Paul also has qualifications in Accounting and Employment Law and is able to assist parties in reaching a result.
Qualifications:
M.Med&Con. Res; Grad Cert Empl Law
Job Titles:
- Professor in the School of Law
Robyn Carroll is a professor in the School of Law at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Her teaching, research and practice areas include family law, remedies and mediation. Robyn has published numerous articles and book chapters on remedies, family law and mediation and the role of apologies in dispute resolution. Robyn has published articles about mediation of guardianship and administration matters. In 2013 Robyn was a co-organiser of an interdisciplinary forum at UWA titled ‘Health, Wealth and Hearth: Perspectives on an Ageing Australia' which brought together policy makers, government and NGO representatives, advocates, academics and practitioners from areas including medicine, social work, gerontology, economics and law. Papers from that forum are being prepared for publication. Robyn is also a Senior Sessional Member of the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal in the Human Rights stream where she conducts hearings and mediations in guardianship and administration matters.
Si n Dyce is an NMAS accredited mediator, certified family group conference facilitator and has undertaken specialist training in elder mediation. Si n established Family Talks to guide families facing a life-changing accident or diagnosis to come together to make decisions and plans around future care needs. She facilitates courageous conversations so that everyone feels heard and understood in order to preserve relationships, reduce stress, prevent conflict and foster greater cooperation.
Prior to training and working as a Mediator, her 20 year career has spanned media, community services and business administration in both urban and regional Australia, and the UK. She also trained as a crisis telephone counsellor for Lifeline Australia and volunteered there for three years.
My name is Esther Simbi and I am 36 years old. I am originally from South Sudan. I am one of six and I'm the youngest in the family. I had polio as a three year old and I now suffer from Post-Polio Syndrome as a result. I migrated to Uganda with my family in the mid 1980s as a refugee aged 6 years old. I lived in three different refugee camps in Uganda for a period of 19 years where I was exposed to violation of human rights, violence, crimes in the refugee camp, abuse, poverty, poor living conditions, starvation due to lack of food as well as lack of shelter and lack of medical attention in the refugee camp.
As a person with a disability, I have encountered first-hand experience of intolerance, judgement, abuse, bullying, and rejection but the hardships I experienced in my early life have made me to become a strong person now. I am now a proud single mother of a three year old beautiful daughter, Destiny.
I came to Australia in July 2005 as a refugee and since arriving Australia, I have managed to obtain a Bachelor Degree in Social Work at the University of South Australia. I am currently completing a Masters Degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution at the University of South Australia.
I worked with Families SA, the Crisis Response Unit and with the Child Abuse Report Line as a Social Worker, and with Disability SA as a Social Worker, Service Coordinator, and Intake Coordinator and as a Facilitator.
I am standing for election as an Upper House Representative for Dignity for Disability in the upcoming state election on Saturday March 15th 2014. I am standing for election because it is important for South Australians to know and to understand that disability is not inability, and I want to work with the government of the day to change the culture of negativity that exists towards people with disabilities.
Job Titles:
- Master Family Studies ( Distinction )