"I think that peer mediation provides schools with an alternative to traditional disciplinary methods. What I mean is that students
involved in this process, whether they are the disputants
or the mediators, learn new ways of handling conflict."

...Peer mediator

We are an urban high school of approximately 450 students from middle- to low-income families. Our school has helped students resolve interpersonal conflict and change the school's focus to one of problem solving using peer mediation.

Where It Began... In 1998 we reviewed our Behavioural Management Policy and Procedures so we could address our core values of learning, respect and cooperation. This review revealed that the student body wanted Years 8 to 12 to be more involved in decision making and leadership.

A student survey also identified bullying as an issue.

Getting Started... The school introduced major changes to the Student Council that resulted in students from all year levels being democratically elected by their peers and having a greater involvement in decision making and leadership within the school.

As part of our new behaviour management practices, staff agreed to actively model good conflict resolution skills to students, including third party mediation in more difficult conflict situations. This built on our 'Working it Out' process, which encouraged more appropriate classroom behaviour using a shared concern meeting where the student and teacher would discuss the problem and work out a mutually agreed action plan.

With the support of the administration, a Peer Mediation Team was introduced to deal with low-level student-to-student conflict and harassment. The school community embraced this move.

How We Went About It...

• We promoted peer mediation to the school community.
• Students from Years 9 to 12 in the newly elected Student Council were invited to submit a teacher-endorsed expression of interest.
• The counsellor/guidance officer and the Student Council coordinator, both trained in peer mediation, organised and facilitated an intensive and comprehensive 15-hour training program for a group of 16 enthusiastic student counsellors. This took place during and after school hours, on and off the school grounds.
• A room was specially refurbished for peer mediation, set up and equipped with a photocopier to make copies of the agreement contracts.
  

What We Are Learning... Mediations are occurring on a regular basis. Most of the issues dealt with under the program relate to bullying and harassment or unresolved conflicts and misunderstandings. In most cases we reach a successful outcome and the number of bullying incidents being dealt with by the administration has dropped dramatically. While the approach doesn't always work, it has been an extremely positive influence and it is expected that the number of disputes will drop even more.

This is quite a contrast to when the administration - the 'big guns' - were dealing with the problems, which would often 'boomerang back'.

The whole school community has received the program positively. Other students, school staff and parents see the peer mediators as credible role models.

What's Next... There will soon be another round of expressions of interest and further training of new and existing peer mediators. Ongoing promotion of the program keeps it alive and well.

"Students like to have their say without teachers probing, and peer
mediation offers that. Students have taken ownership of
the program and are more willing to solve a problem
with other students before it escalates."

...Deputy principal