Highgate Hill woman awarded mediation training scholarship

Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath has awarded four Queenslanders with scholarships to be trained in mediation with the Queensland Government’s Dispute Resolution Branch.

Among the four recipients of the Jack Cranstoun Scholarship is Human Resources Officer Malia Naupoto, who is hoping to be of greater service to the community.

Ms Naupoto said she was very humbled to be selected.

“I’m very grateful that I now have an opportunity to learn about the art of mediation,” she said.

“I feel a strong connection to the values and principles of mediation and can now attain the national accreditation, develop my professional skills as a HR Officer at State Library of Queensland and further improve my volunteer work within the community.

“Following the training I hope to continue learning, growing and helping others by becoming the best mediator I can be.”

Mrs D’Ath awarded Ms Naupoto with her scholarship at a ceremony in Brisbane this week.

Mrs D’Ath said it was great to see these young people take an interest in mediation.

“Mediators provide an invaluable service for Queenslanders in helping to settle disputes,” she said.

“With a success rate of around 85 per cent, mediators save time, legal fees and court costs for the people involved – and the community at large – and help to free up the court system.”

The Scholarship was established by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General in 2015 in memory of Jack Cranstoun, who was a much-loved member of the Dispute Resolution Branch and who passed away in a surfing accident in 2014.

The scholarship is now in its third year and offers budding mediators with the opportunity to be trained in mediation with the Queensland Government’s Dispute Resolution Branch, and assessed for National Mediator Accreditation.

Dispute Resolution Training Manager Janet Barnes said the scholarship gave recipients the skills and knowledge needed to start their career in mediation, as well as providing a valuable networking opportunity.

“Through the scholarship, the participants will undertake two interactive mediation courses run by Dispute Resolution Branch mediators,” she said.

“The opportunity to work with experienced mediators in the Dispute Resolution Branch will be invaluable for these budding mediators.”

The other recipients of this year’s scholarship were Nathan Williams from Bundaberg, Julia Maurus from Cairns and Michael Chang from Townsville.

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Media Contact: Pam Frost 0437 696 809