NAAJA’s Cross Cultural Mediation Project

In 2009 NAAJA expanded its services by gaining a Commonwealth grant to develop an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) project.  ADR is commonly referred to as mediation or peacemaking.  

The Federal Attorney General’s department funded NAAJA’s Restorative Justice and Preventative Law Project to work in three specific areas concerned with access to culturally effective ADR, and include:

• Working with an Aboriginal community in the Top End to participate in exploring internal dispute resolution processes and management practice;
• Develop and promote culturally competent conflict resolution skills, knowledge and capacities;
• Work with family dispute resolution practitioners to ensure that family dispute resolution is culturally effective and accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Additional aspects of this project will include working with magistrates and lawyers to support the use of culturally effective problem solving and decision making through ADR, and supporting the development of an Aboriginal Mediators Network in the Northern Territory.

What is ADR?

At the moment the Cross Cultural Mediator, Helen Bishop, is researching how the service might best work in the Top End of the NT and the immediate priorities to focus on.  While research is yet to be completed NAAJA’s mediation services will be limited.   We hope to be able to share our latest information on the progress of this service by May – June 2009. 

Where can I get ADR assistance while NAAJA is still setting up its service?

When can I use ADR?

Some Recommended Literature on Indigenous ADR