Director & Principal Mediator - Kathy Pulford

Bachelor of Social Work. BSW (Curtin University),
Graduate Diploma Family Dispute Resolution, FDR (Mediation Institute, Melbourne, Vic),
Accredited FDR Practitioner (Attorney General’s Department)
National Accredited Mediator (Mediator Standards Board)
Dispute Resolution Chairperson (Children's Matters) List member, Legal Aid Western Australia
Member Resolution Institute – Association of Dispute Resolvers
Graduate Leadership Program (University of WA Business School & Australian Institute of Management)
Graduate Intercultural Leadership Program (Curtin University)
Accreditation, Level 4. Positive Parenting Program (PPP) (University of Queensland).
CCETSW Accreditation - Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, United Kingdom.
Accreditation WASC-Y (Youth) and WASC-A (Adult) Westerman Aboriginal Assessment Symptom Checklist
Investigative Cognitive Interviewing, Centre for Investigative Studies and Crime Reduction, (Charles Sturt University)
Member WA Family Pathways Network

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner

Kathy is a qualified and experienced Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner specialising in Family Dispute Mediation, assisting families affected by separation or divorce, negotiate appropriate arrangements for their children and/or property settlement as an alternative to going to Court.

Where children are involved, the Family Court's paramount consideration being "in the best interests of the child" is also carried through in Kathy’s mediation by providing a conducive forum and process for the parties to be able to communicate as parents.

During the course of mediation, Kathy also works with her clients to improve their communication skills as co-parents and to build up parental alliance, with mediation being seen as a first step towards a positive future for families in transition.

Where mediation is not successful or appropriate in the given instance however, then as an accredited and registered practitioner with the Attorney General's Department, Kathy is authorised to issue Section 60I FDR Exemption Certificates under the Family Law Act 1975 to enable parties to proceed with an application in the Family Court.

As a highly experienced Social Worker, Kathy has managed complex casework involving individuals, couples, communities, extended families, parents and children in vulnerable circumstances. Kathy is experienced in Family Court matters and State Administrative Tribunal hearings seeking outcomes that are in best interests of represented persons and children. Kathy can work effectively and collaboratively with external professionals with mutual respect.

Nationally Accredited Mediator

Kathy is nationally accredited under the National Mediator Accreditation Scheme (NMAS) making her a nationally recognised Mediator able to perform a broad range of mediations across different industry and community settings.

Community & Workplace Mediation

Kathy also has a business management background and has experience in workplace dispute resolution. Kathy has held senior management roles in large organisations and departments spanning across child and family, health and education and has small business management experience. Her expertise includes strategic planning, all aspects of change management and organisational development.

Elder Mediation

Kathy has worked in the field of aged care and with vulnerable adults. She understands the complex issues and important decisions that may face elderly people and their families. It is important to preserve decision making, independence and also relationships where possible. This can be a delicate balance and assistance may be required.

Personal Disputes

If you have a personal dispute and would like to resolve it, without escalating the conflict and damaging your relationship further, then mediation may provide the ideal solution for you.

Specialist Training

Kathy has additional specialist training in:

Adoptions – mediation of adoption plans and parenting arrangements.
Child matters including impact of trauma, separation and loss, child development and out-of-home-care.
Working with issues concerning Vulnerable people e.g. with decision making disabilities
Workplace Dispute Resolution
Community Development and business development
Indigenous Culture and Health

Counselling Services

Amongst all of the above, Kathy also holds a Social Work degree, has taught at tertiary level at Curtin University for many years alongside her Social Work professional roles which have included positions in the UK, interstate and within WA.

Kathy possesses extensive counselling experience and specialist knowledge and experience in family and child protection matters. Previous roles and experience include Independent Chairperson Cross Sector Foster Carer Panel for Department of Communities, counsellor and supervisors of Parenting Line, educator in Positive Parenting Program, manager of state services for post and past adoptions including management and legislative licensing of Private Contact and Mediation Licensees, advocacy and guardianship of people with decision making disabilities, sexual assault counsellor, educator of culturally secure ways of working, and student support and outreach coordinator (Curtin University); and is undertaking further studies in a Master of Dispute Resolution in pursuit of ever increasing standards of expertise and service to clients.

Promise To You

With her diverse insight coupled with her broad range of skills and expertise, Kathy understands the needs of her clients to be treated respectfully, with compassion, care and consideration of each person’s unique circumstances. She also understands that her clients need to be the ones in control of their lives and their decisions, not third party interveners. As such, Kathy will always listen attentively to her clients and understand their needs before offering any guidance, which will always be practical, without judgement and realistic in nature.