The RDSC can facilitate in a wide range of disputes. Some of the groups who take advantage of the mediation and dispute advisory services include:

• clubs and organisations
• people involved in workplace disputes
• body corporate members
• people in conflict over planning and environmental issues
• families.

The RDSC can provide a range of services, depending on everybody's needs, including:

• information sessions
• large group sessions
• several smaller group sessions
• education and training for all the individuals about managing conflict.

The RDSC deals with a wide range of disputes, including:

• movement of livestock
• noise and dust
• noxious weeds
• spray drift
• right of way
• private road maintenance.

In fact, the RDSC can help with disputes affecting the relationship between neighbours, and any conflict which afflicts the community.

You can seek mediation at any time during a dispute, even after legal action has commenced. The sooner mediation occurs the better as it can prevent matters from escalating and keep costs down.

Not all the relevant parties or issues need to be defined when you first contact the RDSC. They can help you identify these matters and be flexible in their approach to the problem. Anyone who feels they have an interest in the problem can contact the RDSC.

There doesn't even need to be a specific dispute. We can act in a preventative role, working with members of the group on procedures to prevent future disputes.

The RDSC offers advice over the phone about how to resolve disputes or prevent them from occurring.

They listen to what the dispute is and assess how they can help. When you call the service, you will speak to a Dispute Assessment Officer who will:

• talk with you about the problem, including what you've tried and what happened
• discuss current options, generate new options and explore the outcomes
• suggest negotiation strategies and assist in communication techniques
• explain how mediation can help you to resolve your problem.

The RDSC can send out printed information, or suggest other organisations that might help and although they don't provide legal advice, they can help you access it.

The RDSC can provide a structured mediation process, where they help you prepare and then facilitate a face-to-face meeting between the mediators and all the people involved in the dispute. The two trained mediators assist the parties to:

• identify the disputed issues
• develop options
• consider alternatives
• endeavour to reach an agreement.

The mediators control how the session is run and the parties control what is discussed and agreed to. You can organise a mediation session over the phone.

The RDSC has a panel of 40 highly skilled and trained mediators located around the state and based in rural areas. They were selected because of their strong community links and their understanding of the issues involved in rural living and farming practice.

They are employed on a sessional basis and are paid by the Department of Justice. Mediators are selected primarily for their mediation skills and do not give advice or make recommendations to the parties, regardless of their qualifications, knowledge or particular field of expertise.