International Mediation Awareness Week

International Mediation Awareness Week (IMAW), held from November 4–8, is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of mediation practices around the world. During this week, professionals from diverse countries shared presentations and information to promote awareness, offer practice examples, and encourage greater engagement in mediation across various contexts.

Senior Researchers from The Cairns Institute, Claire Holland and Dr. Judith Rafferty, coordinated two panel presentations as part of IMAW. Both serve as Chair and Vice-Chair of Mediators Beyond Borders Oceania (MBBO) and collaborated with the Conflict Management Academy (CMA) to present a webinar titled “Top Tips I Wish I Had Known When I Started Mediating.” This free webinar, held on November 4 and available on the CMA website, shared practical insights for emerging mediators, covering preparation techniques, process management, and tips for flexibility in approaches, such as using co-mediation models.

Additionally, Claire and Judith hosted a second webinar drawing on their experiences as mediation specialists in the Central African Republic and refugee camps on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Titled “Mediations Beyond Borders: Witchcraft, Adultery, and Other Practices,” this event featured MBBO members and CMA colleagues working in challenging contexts including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, and other multicultural settings. Delivered on November 14, the recorded webinar is available on the CMA platform and as a paid session, with proceeds supporting MBBO’s work in promoting peaceful conflict management practices within Oceania communities (viewing is free for MBBO members).

Navigating Uncertainty and Complexity with a Planned Approach to Conflict Engagement
Some conflicts are unlikely to ever be resolved, particularly those that are complex and protracted. A single mediation session often falls short in meaningfully addressing such conflicts. Instead, these conflicts require a holistic, long-term approach that empowers parties to engage constructively with other stakeholders over time.

To address this need, Judith and Claire developed the Planned Approach to Conflict Engagement (PACE), a framework designed to support sustained and effective conflict engagement. PACE focuses on improving how parties behave, think, and interact in ongoing conflicts in a sustainable and strategic way. Beyond improving parties‘ experience with conflict, PACE can also be applied to prevent potential conflicts, for example in the context of complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Drawing on 15 years of experience in conflict practice, research, and training, Claire and Judith identified several key areas that support effective engagement in prolonged conflicts, such as establishing durable communication channels.

Recently, Judith and Claire shared PACE at various forums. On November 7th, they presented at the Resolution Institute Conference “Navigating Uncertainty” in Sydney, where they introduced the framework and its key areas, shared its rationale, and invited audience feedback. They also hosted a webinar about PACE and published a blog post.

For further information, contact Judith.rafferty@jcu.edu.au