Workplace and small business mediator

Small businesses, employers and HR teams, community organisations, body corporates and private individuals, often split between the parties. Some work comes by referral from solicitors, accountants and business advisers.

A fixed fee or hourly rate per mediation session, often shared between the parties. You can also charge for pre-mediation intake calls and drafting the agreement.

• Calm, neutral listening
• Clear and fair communication
• Handling emotional or heated conversations
• Organising sessions and paperwork

• Accreditation is not legally required for most mediation, but clients and referrers often expect it, so check the national standards
• Family dispute resolution certificates need separate registration as a practitioner, so check with the Attorney-General's Department
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Keep confidentiality and conflicts of interest clear in a written agreement to mediate
• Work can be slow to build, as referral relationships take time
• Check your state or territory rules on mediation confidentiality and court-referred work

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your training, insurance, and the venues or tools you set up. Work can be slow to build, as referral relationships take time. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the number of cases, your referral relationships and how your fees are set. The estimate assumes from about 6 hours a week. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Accreditation is not legally required for most mediation, but clients and referrers often expect it, so check the national standards. Also check separate registration for family dispute resolution, insurance, and your state or territory's rules on confidentiality.