Table of Contents
Surf Life Saving QLD
In early 2024 Surf Life Saving Queensland entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Interact Support Inc to access tailored dispute resolution services through their Interact Community Dispute Resolution Services (ICDRS) program.
Resolve club Disputes with Confidence
ICDRS services available to Surf Life Saving Queensland Clubs
Disputes or tensions in a club can affect team spirit, relationships and enjoyment. The good news is that help is available through our trusted and professional services.
ICDRS (Interact Community Dispute Resolution Service) offers Surf Life Saving Queensland clubs access to qualified, independent mediators to help resolve issues quickly and fairly.
All ICDRS mediators are nationally accredited under AMDRAS (Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards) — so you can be assured your mediation will be:
- Confidential –what is said in mediation can be used in court or other forums and all participants sign a confidentiality agreement
- Respectful – we have a zero tolerance for abusive behaviour
- Voluntary – no one will be forced into an agreement
- Impartial – our mediators are independent of both the clubs and members
- Focused on positive outcomes – our goal is to support you to resolve disputes and conflict
What to expect
Step 1 – Private Pre-Mediation Sessions
Each person involved will first have a confidential individual session with our mediators (normally by phone or online).
This helps us:
✔ Understand the issues
✔ Check that mediation is safe and suitable
✔ Prepare you for the dispute resolution process
Step 2 – Mediation
If all participants commit to the process, a joint mediation session will be scheduled — online or in-person (where practical and recommended).
Step 3 – Resolution & Next Steps
Our mediators guide you through the mediation process to help explore the issues and options for resolution. If it is possible, they will help you to reach, and reality test, a mutual agreement. You will never be pressured to agree to something you don’t feel is right.
Ask a Mediator
Triage and Information
When it comes to resolving disputes and conflict situations one size doesn’t fit all.
Our Ask a Mediator service provides an opportunity to speak with a professional mediator about your situation and develop a plan moving forward. Is mediation appropriate?
Are you just needing a bit of guidance before having a difficult conversation?
Confidential call back service
The call back service for Ask a Mediator has a service standard of getting back to you within 24 hours (on business days)
Fill in the form with an outline of the issues and any requirements regarding contacting you. The services are confidential. We will not disclose what you have shared with us unless we have a duty of care or are required to by a court.
Mediation Services
Resolving Disputes
Mediation is a process facilitated by an independent third party mediator who helps people who have a disagreement, dispute or conflict to work towards an equitable resolution.
Mediation is voluntary, confidential, and in the majority of cases results in a resolution being reached.
How we work
We can be contacted directly by one of the people in dispute or by a complaint manager for a club or region.
Conflict Management First Aid Workshop
Building Skills and Knowledge
This interactive workshop provides the opportunity for teams and individuals to come together to learn more about conflict, how and why it escalates and how to de-escalate conflict situations.
Like first aid for physical or mental health issues conflict management first aid is designed to give people the skills to handle situations in the moment and determine whether the assistance of a professional is needed. You can use the Ask a Mediator service to debrief and consider your options to bring in a trained mediator if you feel the situation requires more than “first aid”.
More Information?
The workshop runs for three hours and is available in person or online.
We have a preference for the in-person workshop as it provides more opportunities for discussion before, during and after the workshop but the online option is still valuable to ensure access to all who would benefit.
Information Sessions
Free information sessions
These group information sessions are available free of change either online or onsite (onsite depends on location) to tell you a bit more about the service and answer any questions you may have.
Privacy – the information you provide will only be used to contact you regarding an information session.
Anger Management Course
Learn to control this powerful emotion
Anger is one of our most powerful and protective emotions but without a good understanding of how our emotions work and how we can improve our awareness and ability to manage them strong emotions like anger can cause problems.
In this short online course you’ll learn about the anger cycle, triggering and strategies to control your emotions rather than being controlled by them.
How to enrol
The course is available fully online and you can complete it without the need to engage in an enrolment process other than paying the $39 course cost!
You will be automatically issued with a certificate when you complete the course if you need to show it to an employer or loved one!
Program Manager
Joanne Law – phone 0401 293 500 joanne.law@interact.support
Downloadable Poster
Click on the image to download and print the poster for your notice board or other printed purpose. Share a link to this page for electronic access.
Fee information
FAQ
ask us
anything
What kind of Mediation do you offer?
The ICDRS team can provide support for any type of mediation.
For Surf Life Saving Queensland, we mostly assist with:
✔ Mediations following complaints
✔ Team or interpersonal issues within the club
However, if members, coaches, or club families have conflict in other areas of life, we may also be able to help — just reach out and ask.
Our mediators are all nationally accredited (AMDRAS/NMAS), and many bring additional skills in specialist areas, including:
• Family Dispute Resolution (Family Law Mediation) through our Interact Online program
• other community-based mediation
Through our collaboration with Mediation Institute we can refer members to business, commercial and any other specialist mediators as well.
If you or someone in your club is facing a conflict situation — whether related to Surf Life Saving or not — contact us for a confidential chat about how we can help.
Is it confidential?
Confidentiality and Privacy
One of the key strengths of mediation is that it is a confidential process. You can openly explore issues, make proposals, and suggest solutions — knowing these discussions can’t be used against you in other settings.
If all participants choose to sign a written agreement during mediation, that document can usually be used as evidence of the agreement. How well each person follows through on that agreement may also be considered in future discussions if needed.
Our mediators are nationally accredited under AMDRAS (formerly NMAS) and must follow strict confidentiality standards. Proposals or offers made during mediation are generally not able to be used as evicence in court.
Please note, we do have a duty of care — if any serious risks or threats to safety are raised, we may need to take appropriate steps to protect those involved.
Under our MOU with Surf Life Saving Queensland, we will only report:
✔ Whether participants attended a scheduled mediation
✔ Whether issues were resolved (fully or partially)
We will not provide any copies of meeting agendas, the content of agreements, or details of issues discussed.
what are your opening hours?
ICDRS is a national service that makes use of the surplus hours of our team of mediators.
We offer extended hours, by appointment but don’t have set open hours.
If you complete one of our enquiry forms, Ask a Mediator or similar we aim to have a human respond within 24 hours – Monday to Friday
Why use an Accredited Mediator?
You may have been involved in a past “mediation” where the process wasn’t neutral or independent.
Genuine, professional mediation is very different.
An accredited mediator ensures:
- Everyone is heard
- No bias
- No pressure
- Safe space for respectful discussion
If you’re unsure whether mediation is right for your situation, feel free to contact us for a no-obligation chat.