78137 Facilitation

This subject covers the range of facilitative processes and techniques applied to the resolution of disputes in both the public and private arenas. Students are introduced to the extensive scholarship, strategies and skills that are required for the resolution of disputes using consultative, consensus-seeking and restorative processes with the assistance of a facilitator. The subject focuses on the use of these processes in the resolution of a broad range of multi-party disputes where mediation and conciliation processes are not indicated.

The subject examines the design and use of these processes in:

• the public arena, such as environmental and other multi-party disputes involving governmental and quasi-governmental, social and community concerns
• the juvenile and adult criminal justice system
• family and civil law systems, such as in the resolution of family welfare disputes and multi-party family or community-based disputes
• schools and other educational organisations and other institutions where the needs of community behaviour require disciplinary systems that are both restorative and educational

In addition, the subject examines, generally, where a process, required to address concerns of parties to a dispute, is able to provide a satisfying and effective outcome that also has the possibility of being transformative for the participants and for the community.

In particular, the subject involves students in the critical study of the scholarship, the philosophy and values, the skills and the issues arising out of the application of these facilitative processes.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Spring semester, City campus