Alternative Dispute Resolution Assistance Scheme (ADRAS)
Under the Workplace Relations Act 1996, employers and employees have a choice between referring certain disputes to a private alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider or the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) for assistance. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Assistance Scheme (ADRAS) enables eligible employers and employees to receive Government assistance for private ADR services.
Under the scheme, eligible parties will be able to access up to $1,500 (GST inclusive) assistance for ADR services per eligible dispute. Additionally, up to $500 (GST inclusive) will be available to meet reasonable travel expenses where an ADR provider is required to travel to assist parties located in regional or remote areas. Any fees or costs in excess of these amounts will need to be paid by the parties to the dispute.
Eligibility
ADRAS is administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in accordance with the Operational Arrangements. The Operational Arrangements set out the scheme’s eligibility requirements and assistance limits.
To be eligible for assistance under ADRAS, parties to a dispute must meet a number of eligibility requirements. Fore more information about the eligibility criteria, refer to the ADRAS Are you eligible? brochure.
What is ADR?
ADR refers to any way in which an impartial person (an ADR provider) assists parties in a dispute to resolve the matters between them. The scheme does not impose limits on the type of ADR that can be used to resolve a dispute. There are many types of ADR, providing parties with a wide range of choices for dispute resolution.
Using Private Alternative Dispute Resolution fact sheet (File size: 106Kb)
How do I apply for assistance under ADRAS?
To apply for assistance you need to complete an ADRAS Application Form which is contained in the ADRAS information brochure. Once the application form has been completed you need to lodge it with the department for assessment. You can lodge the application form by mail, fax or email and the details are provided at the end of this page.
For further information about the application process, or to gain information if you have been deemed eligible for assistance, refer to the ADRAS information brochure.
Becoming an ADR provider
To be entitled to provide ADR services under ADRAS, an ADR provider must be registered on an approved professional organisation's panel. The department has approached a number of professional organisations representing peak ADR organisations, law societies and bar associations to establish panels of ADR providers under ADRAS.
For an ADR provider to be included on a panel maintained by a professional organisation they must meet two requirements. Firstly, they must be a current member, sessional provider, sourced panel member, employee, legal practitioner or any other ADR provider of one of the professional organisations. Secondly, they must agree to the ADR Provider Terms and Conditions for Participation in ADRAS through signing an Undertaking to the Commonwealth.
ADR providers should refer to the How-to guide for ADR providers for more information.
Providing assistance under ADRAS
After registering on a professional organisation's panel the ADR provider will be eligible to receive referrals under ADRAS. When providing services under ADRAS, a provider must act in accordance with the ADR Provider Terms and Conditions for Participation in ADRAS. Further information about these requirements and other considerations for ADR providers are outlined in the ADRAS 'How to' guide for ADR providers.
For more information
Phone: 1300 363 264 (Workplace Infoline)
Fax: 02 6218 4057
Email: adras@deewr.gov.au
Mail: Alternative Dispute Resolution Assistance Scheme
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9879 (31BBP11)
Canberra ACT 2601
Links:
ADRAS operational arrangements (File size: 88.5Kb)
ADRAS are you eligible? (File size: 95Kb)
ADRAS information brochure and application forms (File size: 70.1Kb)
ADR provider terms and conditions for participation in ADRAS (File size: 119Kb)
'How to' guide for ADR providers (File size: 306Kb)
ADRAS participant terms and conditions (File size: 27.4Kb)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations