ADRA

ADRA, the Alternate Dispute Resolution Association of Australia, was established in 1987. The first committee commenced with great excitement and enthusiasm as much of what they were doing was very new. It consisted of Wendy Faulkes - President, David Newton - Vice President, Linda Fisher - Secretary, Basil Evangelinidis - Treasurer, Jennifer David... - Newsletter Editor, Ruth Charlton, Micheline Dewdney, Gerald Raftesath and Janice Williams. Of this initial group, Linda Fisher, Ruth Charlton and Micheline Dewdney are now Life Members of ADRA. By the time of the first AGM in October 1987, when Maureen Carter, Dr Sandra Regan and Alan McDonald joined the other committee members to become the first Board of management, a Constitution had been developed, publication of the first newsletter had begun and plans for activities and functions were underway. Within the next year the Ethics subcommittee had begun work on drafting ethical standards for mediators. There was much talk about the development of standards and whether ADRA had a role in the area of standards and accreditation, but progress was too difficult at that stage for the fledgling organisation. After the first two years the name became ADRA, the Australian Dispute Resolution Association Inc. Members noted that while ADRA could be Australia-wide, the South Australian Dispute Resolution Association (SADRA) and the Mediation Association of Victoria (MAV) existed by that time. MAV later became VADR and WADRA was also established. Over the years ADRA has celebrated many firsts. As well as being the first dispute resolution membership organisation and the first to develop a newsletter for mediation practitioners, ADRA was the first to hold a national conference. This was titled 'Mediation and Domestic Violence' and was held in the State Library in Sydney. This was followed by a document on Policy and Procedures on Mediation and Domestic Violence prepared by Margaret Burns and the ADRA Domestic Violence Committee. ADRA initiated and facilitated the Let's Talk ...Read More