An invitation for people over 65, and their family members, to participate in free family mediation sessions.

Family mediation is a co-operative approach to preventing or resolving family conflicts and can assist older people to make plans and decisions which protect their interests, rights and safety, now and in the future.

People over 65 years of age and members of their family are invited to voluntarily participate in one or more free, confidential family mediation sessions. Family mediation can be beneficial when older people and/or their family members need to have difficult conversations, or make decisions about the older person’s present or future living arrangements, care plans or financial arrangements.

Researchers from the University of South Australia and Flinders University, in partnership with professional mediators in community organisations, are conducting mediation trials to develop a family mediation model which will assist older people and their families to make plans to protect older people’s finances and assets.

The project involves collaboration between Relationships Australia SA, Office of the Public Advocate, Guardianship Board, Alzheimer’s Australia SA, Department for Families and Communities (Disability Ageing and Carers Branch), University of South Australia and
Flinders University and is funded by the Australian Research Council.

If you choose participate you will be invited to do the following:
1. Undergo an initial meeting with a mediator to determine if mediation is appropriate in responding to your needs.

2. If mediation is appropriate, you will be invited to participate in one or more mediation sessions with members of your family. The mediator acts as an impartial third party who manages the way that participants communicate with each other. The mediator ensures
that people are treated with respect and that each person’s voice is heard in a safe environment.

3. Complete a brief evaluation after each mediation session.

If the older person is mentally or physically unable or uncomfortable about participating in the family meeting on their own, he/she may choose to attend with an appropriate support person or the mediator can offer other flexible options. The mediation sessions are free and they are voluntary - they will not cost you or your family members any money and you can withdraw at any time.

The information collected will be confidential and will be used to help evaluate a range of ways to protect the best interests, rights and safety of older people, as well as evaluate ways to ensure that vulnerable older people have a voice (directly or indirectly) in the mediation process.

How can you make an appointment?

Please ring: The Office of the Public Advocate (8342 8200 or country callers 1800 066 969) or Relationships Australia (8223 4566 or country callers 1800 182 325) or Braes Mediation Solutions, Millicent (0417 821 830).