How to become a Mediator

Family Mediator

How to become a Family Mediator

Stage 1 – Preliminary

• In order to qualify for accreditation as a family mediator, a candidate is required to meet the following preliminary requirements :-
  

  A degree or a post graduate qualification in social work, psychology, counseling or law from a recognized university or institution; and Three years working experience in the fields of family law or family welfare/counselling;

  or

  Other relevant academic qualification - a degree or a post graduate qualification in a field related to family work, such as healthcare or education; and Other working experience which can demonstrate the candidate's competence in family work, such as human related work (pastoral care and spiritual development);

  or

  To be decided at the discretion of the Committee.  The candidate should also be expected to take part in a personal interview.

• In addition, a candidate must satisfactory complete a basic family mediation training course or courses of 40 hours minimum duration approved by the HKIAC MAC.

Stage 2 – Supervised Live Family Mediation

A trainee who has completed the basic 40 hours Family Mediation Training (Stage 1), must then participate in two live family mediations under the supervision of a Supervisor. The trainee may refer to the HKIAC website for a list of approved Supervisors.

The trainee may nominate a supervisor from the list subject to their consent. The Supervisor may accept, turn down, or wait list the applicant in consideration of personal capacity, caseload, language and cultural compatibility.

A supervision fee (to be agreed in writing between the supervisor/the agency to which the Supervisor belongs and the trainee) will be paid by the trainee to the Supervisor/Supervisor's agency as the case may be for the supervision service and which fee shall in no event exceed the amount as set out in Fee Schedule. For approved Supervisors in private practice, this fee will be in addition to normal client fees. The source of case referrals and venue for the supervised mediations are to be negotiated between the Supervisor and the trainee.

A Supervisor, who agrees to co-mediate with or live supervise a trainee, will co-mediate or live supervise only one case with a trainee. Each case shall be of a minimum of five hours and must be sufficiently complex for the trainee to demonstrate the ability to manage emotional intensity and mediate complex financial and child related matters.

The Supervisor will provide a feedback discussion of not less than 30 minutes after each mediation session and will complete and sign an evaluation form (Form MA4) within 14 days of the end of the mediation. The Supervisor shall be as thorough and comprehensive as possible in the feedback discussions and in the completion of Form MA4. A copy of Form MA4 shall be provided to the trainee.

The trainee will be required to complete the self-evaluation form (Form MA2) and obtain completed client evaluation forms (Form MA3), if possible, at the end of the mediation and forward these to the Supervisor.

The responsibility of obtaining the client evaluation forms (Form MA3) is the responsibility of the trainee.

To learn more about the Guidelines for Trainee Mediators, please click here.

Stage 3 – Advanced Training Course

Satisfactory completion of an advanced family mediation training course approved by HKIAC. Stage 3 may be completed before Stage 2.

A Stage 3 advanced family mediation training course must be completed by no later than 3 years from the date of satisfactory completion of Stage 1 basic family mediation training course.

Stage 4 – Application

On completion of stages 1, 2 and 3 candidates may apply to HKIAC for accreditation using Form MA1; the Supervisor's signed evaluation sheets (MA4) together with evaluation sheets from clients (MA3), if available, and trainee self-evaluation sheets (MA2) shall be submitted at the same time. *

Prior to accreditation being approved, a candidate for mediation accreditation may be called by the HKIAC Mediator Accreditation Committee to take part in an accreditation assessment including a personal interview and a possible further simulation supervised by an accredited supervisor chosen by HKIAC Mediator Accreditation Committee who must submit a completed Form MA4 in connection with the further simulation.

Candidates who are accredited will have their names included on the Panel of HKIAC Accredited Family Mediators, subject to complying with all the requirements.

Important Notes

1. A candidate seeking to co-mediate an actual family mediation case will be considered as one mediation.

2. The time limit for Stage 2 Assessment is 3 years from the date of satisfactory completion of Stage 1 mediation training course.

3. For the purpose of assessing applications for accreditation, the completed and signed Form MA4 shall be valid for 3 years from the date of the notification of that result.

4. Candidates will only be informed of their Stage 3 result by post 2 weeks after the scheduled meetings of the HKIAC Mediator Accreditation Committee.  Result will not be disclosed over telephone/e-mail.

5. For consideration by the Committee at an upcoming meeting, candidates are required to submit their applications two (2) weeks before the scheduled meeting of the HKIAC Mediator Accreditation Committee. For dates of the meetings of the Committee, please click here.

Fee Schedule

Note: Any and all of the fees are subject to change at the discretion of the HKIAC MAC.

* Cheques to be made payable to "Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre" upon submission of application.