The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) is calling for applications from qualified mediators to be appointed to a panel to be established by QCAT, called the QCAT Mediators Panel. The panel will comprise accredited mediators, with experience suitable for and commensurate with the nature of the matters to be mediated. The panel is intended to extend to junior mediators in respect of appropriate matters.

Parties to matters before QCAT will, where appropriate, be encouraged to mediate their matters and will be notified of the existence of the QCAT Mediators Panel.

Before being appointed to the Panel, mediators will be required to nominate their mediation fees, together with contact details, and those details will from part of the information available to parties. Being aware of the fees charged by any given mediator will assist some parties in their selection of the mediation.

At this stage, the type of matters which may be referred for mediation include:

• Building disputes under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld)
• Anti-discrimination matters under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)
• Motor vehicle disputes under the consumer law
• Elder law under the Guardian and Administration Act 2000 (Qld) and the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 (Qld)
• Retail Shop Lease disputes under the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (Qld)
• Body Corporate disputes under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld)
• Manufactured Home disputes under the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 (Qld)
• Retirement Village disputes under the Retirement Villages Act 1999 (Qld) That list may grow depending on the success of the mediation programme.