Learning & events

Webinar recording | Is Family Dispute Resolution facilitating the child’s rights to culture?

with Bethaina Dababneh and Mieke Brandon

pre-recorded | Online
“Beth and Mieke lay down the challenge to incorporate this important discussion into FDR”

The realization that children are social agents prompted the ‘United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child’ and the’ Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (FLA) in 2006’ to enact legislation recognizing children as rights holders and culture as a right for children.

Studies into child development suggest that culture is acquired through intergenerational transmission and the socialization of children by members of the child’s family and social group. While not all cultural practices will benefit children, generally exposure to familial and community culture gives the child a sense of belonging, self-worth and personal value. Research indicates that children deprived of cultural connections, can experience emotional, identity and adjustment difficulties.

Practitioners in FDR are duty bound by legal and ethical obligations to advise parents to make agreements that are in their children’s best interests, this includes culture. In conflicted FDR, culture complicates resolution.

This webinar explores:

  • what culture is
  • why is culture important to the child
  • children’s rights to culture
  • the research and findings
  • conclusion and recommendations for practitioners
The link to the recording of this webinar will remain active for at least 3 months from the date of purchase. We continue to consult with the given presenter as to whether extended availability is possible. We are therefore not able to guarantee access beyond 3 months.

About the speakers

Dr Bethaina (Beth) Dababneh
Lawyer
The Parks Legal

Beth was born in Jordan, the eldest daughter of a Christian/Jordanian Family of 8. She migrated to Australia in 1964. Beth is married with 5 children.

Beth graduated Law in 2002, she has worked at Legal Aid in both Civil and Family Departments from 2002-2005, she has been a tutor and lecturer at UTS from 2002-2012.

Principal of The Parks Legal, Lawyers from 2005, Dr Dababneh gained a Masters of Dispute Resolution in 2009 and her PhD in 2014.

Mieke Brandon
Experienced mediator, trainer, coach, assessor,
supervisor and author

Mieke became a mediator in 1990 and specialised in family and workplace mediation. From 1993 to 2007 Mieke worked for Relationships Australia in Brisbane as a senior supervisor and trainer.

Being self-employed for the last 30 years Mieke has worked for many organisations and now continues as a dispute resolution consultant, supervisor, and author. She says she is now “post-career”.

Mieke has published many articles and presented workshops here and overseas. She is the co-author of Mediating with Families now in its 4th edition 2018 and Conflict and Dispute Resolution, a guide for practice in dispute resolution in the workplace.

Mieke is currently a Director on the Board of the Resolution Institute and the Board of Editorial Consultants of the Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal.