SCRAM News
Perth Modern School Win WA Grand Final
Students from Perth Modern School have won the 2009 SCRAM competition.
Perth Modern showcased their dispute resolution skills at the grand final held at ECU’s Joondalup Campus on Thursday 17 September and were announced winners for their outstanding performance, demonstrating a sound understanding of the mediation process.
Shenton College were runners-up, with Margaret River Senior High School winning the 2009 Relationships Australia Encouragement Award and St Mary’s Anglican Girls School receiving the IAMA Participation Award.
ECU’s Faculty of Business and Law is the principal sponsor of the competition which is an initiative of the WA Dispute Resolution Association.
The competition has assistance from volunteers from the mediation profession who dedicate their precious time as coaches and adjudicators throughout the year. A special thanks go to the many people involved in making the final night a great success.
Various community groups support and sponsor the competition including LEADR Association of Dispute Resolvers, Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia, Legal Aid WA, Relationships Australia, Citizens Advice Bureau and Centre Care.
SCRAM Grand Final
The end of the 2009 SCRAM year is approaching with the Grand Final being held at ECU’s Joondalup Campus on Thursday 17 September from 7-9pm.
The 2 finalist schools are Perth Modern and Shenton College. It has been very close competition and finalist positions being strongly sort after. This year there were schools new to SCRAM competing against experienced schools – all demonstrating a strong understanding of mediation principles.
Congratulations to all our participants and volunteers, you have all helped to make it a very successful year. This year’s Grand Final guest adjudicator is The Honourable Len Roberts-Smith RFD, QC, Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission who will together with 5 other experience adjudicators determine the winner of this year’s competition.
All are welcome to attend and enjoy the final event of the year. More can be found on the events page.
ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition
The ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition is pleased to announce that next year’s Competition will be held in Paris on the following dates: 6–10 February 2010.
This will be the fifth edition of this prestigious Competition, which attracts teams from universities and law schools all over the world and enjoys the voluntary support of distinguished professionals as judges and mediators.
Information on the 2009 edition of the Competition, including pictures and videos, can be found at: http://www.iccwbo.org/court/adr/
Please stay tuned to our website for more information about the 2010 Competition as it becomes available. Registration will open in September, from when we will be able to answer any personal enquiries you may have.
SCRAM program expands to Northern Territory
On 3rd April 2009 at the NT Supreme Court, The Community Justice Centre launched the SCRAM program as part of Youth Week.
SCRAM is an interactive role play competition for Year 9 & 10 high school students. The students are taught mediation principles, skills and process to develop peaceful dispute resolution awareness and skills. SCRAM aims to influence the school and the community through the skills the students learn. It provides an enjoyable and dynamic way of introducing students to the mediation process.
Pictured From left to right: Ippei Okazaki, AJ Kulatunga, Selena Uibo and Donald Young
A very enthusiastic congregation including School Principals, Karen Dey and Peter Shoyer (Directors from the Department of Justice), Lisa Coffee (Acting NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner) and members of the NT Youth Minister’s Ministers Round Table of Young Territorians welcomed the SCRAM initiative into NT expressing their sentiments and aspirations as is apparent by comments captured on the day:
“We are experiencing race related conflict.”
“A way to proactively apply the skills to issues such as bullying”
In 2009, five NT schools Dripstone Middle School, Palmerston High School, The Essington School, Sanderson High School and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College in Alice Springs have embarked on the wonderful journey of exploring conflict by understanding difference through the use of mediation. The enthusiasm toward the program is summed up nicely by the experiences and comments of the attendees at the NT SCRAM program launch.
“The role-play was hilarious”;
“it was so much fun playing the parties.”
SCRAM is a non-profit organisation that relies on the generosity of ADR organisations, service providers, educational institutes and individual professional mediators. SCRAM is an interschool mediation competition and currently operates in Western Australia and NSW.
WADRA- SCRAM is sponsored by Edith Cowan University (which also administers the program), LEADR, IAMA, Legal Aid WA, CAB, Relationships Australia and Centrecare. Many private practising mediators volunteer their time to coach the students or adjudicate the simulated mediations.
The Law Society of NSW sponsors and delivers the NSW SCRAM program. In NSW, teachers are trained in mediation and coach the students with the help of over 100 lawyers and mediators representing both public ADR Service providers and private law firms provide voluntary assistance throughout the year to adjudicate each round.
The development of Northern Territory SCRAM has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the Office of Youth Affairs which has promoted the program to schools and mediators across the Territory who are willingly donating their time and sharing their knowledge to the next generation of leaders.
Congratulations to Ippei Okazaki and team at the Northern Territory Community Justice Centre for all their efforts to launch SCRAM in the NT. All the best as you embark on this wonderful journey with young Australians in NT.
The SCRAM program serves a double purpose. While it is focused on creating a pleasant experience in which students can learn about conflict and mediation, it also offers mediators opportunities to practice and enhance their own mediation skills. Participation in SCRAM is a recognised PD activity under the NMAS (National Mediator Accreditation System).
If you are keen to get involved with SCRAM, all state programs welcome direct, indirect, and in-kind support and/or sponsorship.
If your state is not in the list below and you are interested in developing establishing a SCRAM program, the people listed below will be happy to offer some guidance.
| State | Program Name | Website & Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | WADRA-SCRAM | www.scram.business.ecu.edu.auJulia Carr, Coordinator: j.carr@ecu.edu.au
Julie Mercer, Convenor: julie.mercer@optusnet.com.au |
| New South Wales | Law Society NSW SCRAM | www.lawsociety.com.au Lorraine Clarke, Coordinator: lgc@lawsocnsw.asn.au |
| Northern Territory | Community Justice Centre | www.cjc.nt.gov.au Ippei Okazaki, Coordinator: ippei.okazaki@nt.gov.au |
May update for SCRAM 2009 Competition
We have just completed Round 1 adjudication of Hockey Hiccups and the results are being processed. Schools will receive their ranking soon.
Event: SCRAM mid-year training will be held next Wednesday 3 June at the ECU’s Mt Lawley campus, from 4.45 – 6.30pm. The training will be presented by Margaret Halsmith who will focus on aspects of the a dispute from a mediators perspective. It will be an interactive presentation based on a SCRAM scenario. There will be an opportunity for all involved in meet each and discuss any issues or concerns. All Welcome. Refreshments will be provided and its free to attend.
April update for SCRAM 2009 Competition
The 2009 year is in full swing with the practice adjudication round in progress. We have 9 schools competing this year including eight metro schools and one from the south-west. We would like to thank all our volunteers, especially our coaches who give so much to the program. The Committee has been working hard promoting SCRAM in Western Australia and the program has been adopted enthusiastically both in Northern Territory and Tasmania. We look forward to when SCRAM is a truly national competition.
We wish all those participating in the program the best for this year’s competition and hope that the students find SCRAM an enjoyable learning experience.
We encourage you to send through feedback, comments and ideas throughout the year. All suggestions and information is treated as confidential and will be used to continually improve the program. Please send ideas to julie.mercer@optusnet.com.au.
2009 Training Workshop
For Teachers, Coaches and Adjudicators.
The workshop will include an overview of SCRAM, and training sessions for teachers, coaches and adjudicators.
When: Wednesday February 18, 2009
Time: 5.30 - 7.30pm
Where: Building 10, ECU, Mt Lawley Campus, Bradford Street, Mt Lawley
Parking on Campus: enter from Central Avenue - download a campus map
Refreshments will be served. No charge to attend. Further details >>
Christ Church Grammar Tops School Mediators
Western Australia’s Christ Church Grammar School has won the national grand final of the SCRAM (Schools Conflict Resolution and Mediation) competition for 2008.
Christ Church Grammar School: L to R - Sam Matyear, Ben Power, Nicholas Terpkos, Dominic Donaldson, George Ford, Daniel, Lachlan MacDonald.
Last night’s grand final was sponsored by the National Mediation Conference in Perth and required both teams to role play and mediate an everyday dispute - in this case, over the running of a university takeaway food stall.
Adjudicators were impressed by the maturity and skill of the Year 9/10 students from Christ Church Grammar and runner-up Seven Hills High School from New South Wales.
Bond University’s Professor John Wade, also Chairperson of the Family Law Council, said he was envious of the young mediators.
“I learned Greek and Latin at school,” Professor Wade said. “If only I had studied these kinds of communication and dispute resolution skills.”
David Parry, Senior Member of the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia, said: “Mediation teaches young people absolutely brilliant life skills to be able to solve their problems by discussion and agreement.”
SCRAM WA, now in its eighth year, is an initiative of the Western Australian Dispute Resolution Association and is supported by the Faculty of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University. SCRAM NSW is sponsored by the Law Society NSW.
The inter-schools program is a winner of an Australian Institute of Criminology 2005 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award, which recognises outstanding projects that prevent or reduce violence in the community.
Major contributors to the SCRAM Grand Final include Edith Cowan University, the Citizen Advice Bureau WA and the Law Society NSW.
Christ Church Grammar School Win WA Conflict Resolution Grand Final
Students from Christ Church Grammar School (CCGS) have won the 2008 WA grand final of the Schools Conflict, Resolution and Mediation (SCRAM) competition.
Students from Christ Church Grammar School (CCGS) Top row (l-r): Ben Percival, George Ford, Lachlan MacDonald, Daniel Scott. Middle row: Nicoletta Ciffolilli, Nicholas Terpkos, Michelle Gore. Bottom Row: Sam Matyear, Dominic Donaldson, Ben Power.
CCGS showcased their dispute resolution skills at the grand final held at ECU’s Joondalup Campus on Thursday and were announced winners of the 2008 with their control and knowledge of the mediation process and impressive role playing.
Perth College were runners-up, with Safety Bay Senior High School being awarded the Encouragement Award and Shenton College receiving the Participation Award.
CCGS will now compete in the National Grand Final against Seven Hills High School, from New South Wales on Wednesday 10 September 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Perth.
SCRAM is an interactive role play competition for Western Australian high school students in years 9 and 10.
It is designed to increase awareness of peaceful dispute resolution in schools and the community.
ECU’s Faculty of Business and Law is the major sponsor of the competition which is an initiative of the WA Dispute Resolution Association.
The competition has assistance from volunteers who dedicate their time as coaches and adjudication mediators.
Various community groups support the event including LEADR Association of Dispute Resolvers, Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia, Legal Aid WA, Relationships Australia, Citizens Advice Bureau and Centre Care.
Education Expo 2008
The Western Australian Dispute Resolution Association’s (WADRA), Schools Conflict Resolution and Mediation (SCRAM) recently showcased the program to teachers and educators at Education Expo 2008 at the Claremont Showgrounds on 16th & 17th July.
Steve Godden (Expo Co-ordinator) from best Performance discusses with SCRAM committee Member Gillian Eattell the SCRAM program.
At the Expo we provided more detailed information to expo attendees, predominantly teachers, by using a visual experience of students participating in the SCRAM program with the multimedia DVD display of two finalist schools. The DVD is available by contacting Julia Carr Co-ordinator of SCRAM (no charge).
Committee members volunteered their time to assist in promoting the SCRAM program and to interact with teachers and answer questions. The interest generated from teachers was very encouraging and we hope to see an increase in the school participation rate in the year ahead. Several rural, regional and remote schools were delighted to find that SCRAM is equipped to reach their areas and able to provide experienced mediators to attend the schools to assist in administering the program. The WADRA - SCRAM subcommittee endeavours to achieve inclusivity and equality to all participating schools.
A special thanks to Best Performance Pty Ltd for providing the opportunity to participate in the Expo through their sponsorship of a discounted booth and to Estill & Associates for providing the graphic designs for the display boards and the use of multimedia equipment for the demonstration DVD. Minute Man Press provided the printing of the multi-purpose display boards.
SCRAM benefits from annual sponsorship from ECU’s Faculty of Business and Law, LEADR – Association of Dispute Resolvers, IAMA – The Institute of Mediators and Arbitrators Australia, Legal Aid WA, Citizen Advice Bureau, Relationship Australia and CentreCare each of which contributed to the display at the Expo.
The volunteers who assisted at the Expo all agreed that it was a very worthwhile and exciting two days and much interest was generated. A big thank-you to everyone who assisted in making it possible to participate in Education Expo 2008!
WA Grand Final
ECU Faculty of Business & Law will host the 2008 WA Grand Final. It will be held at ECU’s Joondalup Campus on Thursday 21 August 2008 commencing 7 pm. View the WA Grand Final invite for further details.
The two top finalist schools will demonstrate their knowledge of conflict resolution principles and mediation skills before a panel of expert mediators who will decide this year’s competition winner. The winner will then represent WA in the national grand final to be held at the National Mediation Conference in September.
More details soon.
The Inaugural National Grand Final
The National Grand Final of the SCRAM (Schools Conflict Resolution and Mediation) competition will see the top ranking schools from NSW and WA demonstrate their knowledge and skills to be crowned national mediation school champions for 2008.
The National Grand Final will be held:
Date: Wednesday 10 September
Time: 5.30-7.00pm
Place: Hyatt Regency Perth
99 Adelaide Terrace,
Perth, Western Australia, Australia 6000
SCRAM is an interactive mediation role-play competition for year 9 and 10 students. Teams are taught the principles and skills involved in mediation. SCRAM aims to teach students positive approaches to resolving conflict by enhancing communication skills, which include negotiation, decision-making, active listening, analysing, questioning, empathising, and creative and logical thinking.
The two schools competing at the National Mediation Conference have been through a series of adjudicated mock mediations and have been adjudicated as the winning team in each State. They will be displaying their skills and knowledge live at the conference as they work through a simulated dispute. This session is a wonderful opportunity to see talented young Australians put the mediation process into action.
The SCRAM program is funded through grants and sponsorship. It is coordinated and delivered by a team of dedicated multidisciplinary professionals trained in mediation who all work with the program in a voluntary capacity. For further information about SCRAM, please visit the State websites:
www.scram.business.ecu.edu.au
http://www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partID=6935
Curriculum Council Application
Once again SCRAM has applied to the Curriculum Council for endorsement of the SCRAM program. To find our more please read the application (DOC 910 KB).
WA Dispute Resolution Association are listed on the Curriculum Council website as an endorsed personal development program. View further information at the bottom of their Endorsed programs page.
In 2008 the number of Year 10 students who enrolled in SCRAM and achieved points toward their WACE [WA Certificate of Education] is as follows:
- Number of schools: 3
- Number of students enrolled: 18
- Number if students achieved: 18
Please note: Year 9 students are not eligible for WACE points.
2008 National Mediation Standards
Accreditation under the National Standards is not a requirement at the moment, it is voluntary, however mediators can choose to be accredited or not under the Standards. One way to gain points towards national accreditation is by participating in SCRAM as a coach or adjudicator. For more information please refer to LEADR web site www.leadr.com.au/accreditation.htm
News Update
There are 9 teams competing in the 2008 including schools from Rockingham, Margaret River and Albany regions. The SCRAM program will be expanding into the Northam region with the Northam Community Legal Centre being successful in obtaining funding to administer and support the competition locally. The competition will be introduced in the schools this year with a view to competing in the program in 2009.
