Good practices with culturally diverse families in family dispute resolution

The development of the field of family dispute resolution (FDR) in Australia since 2008 has invited reflection about the practice of family mediation. Are FDR services accessible to all Australians, particularly those who may be vulnerable or disadvantaged? Is FDR practice sufficiently responsive to difference? How might FDR practitioners be supported to ensure their practice is culturally competent? Two community-based organisations that manage Family Relationship Centres (FRCs)1 in western Sydney"”with populations characterised by high levels of cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity, as well as socio-economic disadvantage"”sought to answer these questions by initiating research in partnership with the University of Western Sydney.2 The research aimed to identify good practices in enhancing access for and engaging with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds3 in the FDR process. It also aimed to identify appropriate ways to support and sustain culturally responsive practices in FDR. This paper summarises the findings of the two reports of this research (see Armstrong, 2010a, 2012) to provide guidance about enhancing the responsiveness and effectiveness of services for people from CALD communities, and to identify ways in which to support culturally responsive FDR practice.