Disputes in business happen from time to time. From a debt dispute to a contract dispute, Maitland Mediation can help bring parties together in an effort to resolve the issues without court.

Whether you are a sole trader to a corporation, a private individual to a club, or a neighbourhood dispute you need to call Maitland Mediation.

Understanding Civil Mediation

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential discussion with the relevant people about issues in dispute, managed by an accredited mediator.  Mediation provides parties an opportunity to be heard, and to hear what each other has to say. Effective mediation will move employees away from ongoing conflict and encourage them instead to engage in calm dialogue and work towards generating solutions. 

Bringing in an external, impartial mediator can help you:

  • Assist parties in changing ongoing conflict
  • Reduce the likelihood that employees will make external or legal complaints
  • Assist your employees to be responsible for their own behaviour and their working relationships
  • Improve team effectiveness, morale and productivity, and encourage mutual respect
  • Demonstrate to employees and stakeholders that concerns are taken seriously.

Why Choose Maitland Mediation

Maitland Mediation is located in the Maitland CBD. Nichole Orr is your local mediator who is dedicated to providing businesses with alternate options.

Nichole launched Maitland Mediation in 2024 wanting to offer mediation in regional areas.

You will find Nichole warm, knowledgeable and future focused. As a mediator, you will not find a more qualified professional in managing conflict in the workplace. Having a degree in law and an accredited mediator means you are in safe hands.

Why Use Nichole?

  • Experience, experience, experience
  • National Accreditation
  • 15 years experience including managing and training mediators
  • Local and based in Maitland
  • Legal background
  • Former Teacher

The benefits of Civil Mediation

Civil mediation is a very practical and effective tool to help resolve civil conflict, disputes and to seek compensation.

Mediation is:

  • Confidential – Mediation is confidential. This allows parties to be free to negotiate.
  • Cost effective – Mediation is cost effective and considerably cheaper than attending court proceedings
  • Non-adversarial – Mediation is about working together not against each other to find the bet possible outcome
  • Future Focused – Mediation encourages parties to look to the future by not getting stuck in the past
  • Decision making is in your hands – Mediation allows parties to make decisions
  • Faster than court – Mediation assists parties in making decisions on your timetable

FAQ

handshake, hands, welcome

Things you need to know

Mediation is Confidential

Prior to mediation the parties sign a confidentiality agreement. This allows parties to speak openly and honestly. Only the parties participating in the mediation are privy to what is discussed in mediation (unless agreed to by the parties to disclose).

It’s a Goodwill Agreement

Any agreement reached in mediation is essentially a ‘goodwill’ agreement. This means any agreement reached is not ‘legally’ binding.

Impartial

Mediators are impartial, Nichole does not take sides. A mediator’s role is to facilitate an agreement to move forward.

Mediation is Voluntary

You cannot force a person to participate in mediation, nor can you force a person to stay in a mediation.

Every effort is made to have the parties feel safe to ensure proper engagement

Mediators do not give Legal Advice

It is not appropriate for mediators to give legal advice.

Not about Blaming

The nature of mediation is to provide parties with a forum to resolve disputes. Placing blame on a particular party is counterproductive to resolving a dispute and to encourage parties to be ‘future focussed’.

Whilst we understand there is a history between the parties, which is covered in the individual assessment once the mediation commences focus of the mediation shifts from the past to future focused.

How To Get Started:

  1. Contact Maitland Mediation
  2. We will send you an offer
  3. You accept our offer
  4. We schedule a safety assessment with the parties
  5. We Mediate

We generate positive civil dispute results for our clients

Nichole’s expertise as a civil dispute mediator proved invaluable in resolving a complex contractual disagreement. Her thorough understanding of contract law, coupled with an ability to facilitate open communication, enabled us to explore mutually beneficial solutions. Nichole’s guidance led to a resolution that not only met our legal obligations but also preserved the business relationship. I am grateful for her professionalism and skill in navigating the intricacies of our civil dispute.

Nichole demonstrated exceptional mediation skills in helping us navigate a property boundary dispute. She remained impartial which was instrumental in facilitating discussions between our neighbours. Nichole worked tirelessly to ensure that all concerns were addressed and that a fair resolution was reached. Thanks to her guidance, we were able to avoid a protracted legal battle and find a solution that satisfied all parties involved.

If you are facing a civil dispute, I highly recommend Nichole for her outstanding mediation skills. Nichole played a critical role in mediating my case, and her expertise and compassion were evident throughout the process. Her legal experience and empathetic approach helped create a space where both parties felt heard, especially me. Nichole skillfully guided me through negotiations, leading to a settlement that provided fair compensation.