Sound familiar?
Workplace mediation
When two people cannot work together, everyone around them feels it. A held conversation can help you find a workable way forward without handing the decision to someone else.
- Colleagues avoiding each other and the work suffering.
- A manager and employee caught in the same argument.
- Business partners who need to rebuild working arrangements.
A practical next step
How I help
- 01
Understand the situation
We discuss the dispute, immediate concerns and whether mediation is appropriate.
- 02
Hear each person
Private preparation conversations identify concerns, needs and what each person hopes to change.
- 03
Meet and work through it
I guide a structured conversation in person or online. Participants explore options and decide what they can agree.
- 04
Record the next steps
We set out agreed actions and working arrangements in plain English, with follow-up discussed at the outset.
Who it’s for
Available to councils, schools, health services, aged and disability care providers, and small and family businesses.
Serving Northern Rivers NSW, Tweed, Gold Coast, Brisbane and SE Qld, with Australia-wide online appointments. In-person availability is agreed for your location.
Areas we serve →Why Open Hands
Lorraine Dawson is an AMDRAS-accredited mediator and qualified lawyer (LLB), with a master’s in HR and organisational development. She brings an impartial, practical understanding of the people and legal issues involved.
Meet in person or online. Information is handled confidentially, subject to agreed terms, legal obligations and relevant safety exceptions.
Questions people ask
General information only, not legal advice. Your circumstances and the current rules matter.
Does the mediator decide who is right?
No. I facilitate the conversation impartially. Participants make their own decisions; I do not impose a settlement.
Is mediation confidential?
We agree confidentiality terms before starting, including what may be shared with the employer. Legal obligations and safety concerns can limit confidentiality.
Is mediation suitable for every complaint?
No. Serious allegations, safety concerns or a need to establish facts may call for an investigation or another response first. We assess suitability before proceeding.
Can we meet online?
Yes. Online meetings are available Australia-wide, subject to a suitable private setting and the participants' needs.
Does mediation stop a claim deadline?
No. Do not assume mediation extends court or tribunal deadlines. Obtain timely advice about any deadline that may apply.
Start with a conversation.
Thirty minutes, no cost, no obligation.