The Bermuda Association of Family Mediators has launched, coinciding with the Island’s push to bring mediation to the forefront of family law.

Training began at the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building on Monday, with experts from Canada helping to teach accredited family law mediation training.

Sheelagh Cooper, from the BAFM, said the new body was similar in structure to the Bermuda Bar Association, and allowed trainees to become “adjunct members” until they became fully qualified.

“The advantage for them is that they have access to our extensive library of mediation materials, such as books and audiovisual aids,” Ms Cooper said.

The resource library is housed at the Centre for Community and Family Mediation, 38 Mount Hill Road, which will also give mediators the chance to network.

Mediation has gradually overtaken the more traditionally adversarial approach to family law, which can cause bitter rifts and can traumatise the children of warring parents.

For more details, call 295-1150, e-mail cpc@ibl.bm or visit www.mediate.bm