Mediation in the Supreme and County Courts of Victoria
Research Project
Professor Tania Sourdin and Dr Nikola Balvin
Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland (Melbourne campus)
About the project
Professor Tania Sourdin and her research team at the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at The University of Queensland were commissioned by the Victorian Department of Justice to undertake a research project into the use and effectiveness of mediation in the Supreme Court and the County Court of Victoria.
The project commenced in late 2007 and was launched by the Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls on 1 April, 2009. Download a full copy of the report HERE
The project had the following specific objectives:
- Develop agreed criteria for effectiveness of mediation in the higher courts.
- Develop a model for use in the Supreme and County Courts which enables effective evaluation of mediation, which is compatible with the Integrated Courts Management System (ICMS) data warehouse architecture.
- Assess the process and effectiveness of mediation.
- Development and use of model to enable effective assessment of mediation in cases in which proceedings have been instituted in the Supreme and County Courts, but where mediation has not been ordered by the court.
These objectives were addressed using a consultative process with the project's Advisory Committee and key stakeholders from the Supreme and County Courts of Victoria, as well as through an extensive literature review. The project's data collection methodology included:
- A collection of information about finalised Supreme and County Court files in late April and early May 2008;
- written surveys mailed out to disputants and mediators in April and May 2008; and
- focus groups with key stakeholders (disputants, mediators, lawyers) in July 2008.
Professor Sourdin welcomes comments regarding this project from stakeholders, dispute resolution practitioners and researchers and any other interested parties. Please send your comments to t.sourdin@uq.edu.au.
Contact details
Tania Sourdin
The University of Queensland
Email: t.sourdin@uq.edu.au
Or
Nikola Balvin
Senior Researcher
Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
The University of Queensland (Melbourne campus)
Level 11/14 Queens Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Phone: (03) 9863 2600
Email: n.balvin@uq.edu.au
