About Us

Conflict Resolution Service is a Canberra based not for profit organisation dedicated to preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts professionally, competently, and compassionately. Our core purpose is to preserve family connections, reunify and strengthen relationships, and restore family harmony by reducing conflict. We are committed to reducing the emotional and financial impact of conflict on the community by resolving family conflicts, reducing the risk of youth homelessness, mediating workplace conflicts & business issues, and facilitating family separations.

Core Purpose

Our Mission

To provide evidence based dispute resolution services for children, youth and family reunification.

Our Values

Professional

Integrity

CRS will work within an ethical framework,
being respectful, honest, and transparent.

Best Practice

Relevant industry standards will serve as a
minimum benchmark for service delivery.

Impartiality

CRS will demonstrate objectivity, neutrality,
and freedom from prejudice & judgement.

Empowering

Accountability

CRS strives to connect and check in on client
to ensure they are staying on track.

Compassion

CRS practices trauma informed practice to ensure
we are compassionate towards client needs.

Adaptability

CRS will embrace changes in clients needs
and industry standards.

 

 

Accessible

User-Friendly

CRS will provide clear, understandable, appropriate and practical processes and information in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Available

CRS will provide equitable access to a reliable, timely,
affordable and efficient dispute resolution service.

Flexible

CRS will ensure service delivery is responsive to the
needs of individual client circumstances.

 

Client Centered

Respect

CRS respect clients as experts of their life and will
strive to make them feel safe to express themselves.

Transparent

CRS will be open and honest in communication and
will always include clients in the decision process.

Relevant

CRS will ensure its programs and services are
current and appropriate for client needs.

 

Enabling

Governance

Good governance practices will ensure CRS’s ongoing viability, accountability, stability and security.

Profile

CRS will increase community awareness of and confidence in its services.

Resources

Resources will be developed, maintained and engaged efficiently in order to achieve optimum outputs

Our History

The vision to establish the Service commenced in the mid-1980’s following the successful development of the Community Justice Centres in NSW. Conflict Resolution Service (CRS) was formally incorporated on 8th August 1988. ACT Government funding was received in 1989, and shortly afterwards in 1990, CRS was registered as a business and began working from Acton House in Acton.

In the 1990’s, Conflict Resolution Service was a major player in the national mediation scene, stimulating national approaches to community mediation and developing competency standards. This commitment to having a voice in mediator standards continues to the present day with Conflict Resolution Service’s ongoing involvement and presence on national committees for mediator accreditation.

In 2000, Conflict Resolution Service relocated to the CREEDA Canberra Business Centre where it stayed until 2006, when it moved to the Griffin Centre, Canberra City until 2021 and now located on Townshend Street in Phillip ACT.

Funding

Conflict Resolution Services

Community Services Directorate, Community Services Program (CSP)

Funding to provide low cost and accessible community dispute resolution services involving:

  • Neighbourhood disputes;
  • ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal referrals;
  • Magistrates Court referrals;
  • SupportLink referrals.

Residential Tenancy Mediation

Funded by the ACT Government to provide mediation between landlords and tenants struggling to reach rental agreements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safe and Connected Program

Community Services Directorate, Social Housing and Homelessness Program.

An early intervention program in collaboration with other community service providers to reduce youth homelessness specifically for young people under the age of 16.

Neighbourhood Dispute Program

Community Services Directorate, Community Service Program (CSP).

This program aims to assist the community and ACT Government agencies in the prevention and resolution of Neighbourhood disputes. 

Family Support Program

Community Services Directorate, Social Housing and Homelessness Program.

An early intervention service for young people up to the age of 20 who are at risk of homelessness due to family conflict.