We assist people who work and study in educational institutions to address complaints, conflicts and disputes and improve work relationships.
Conflicts and disputes can compromise the working effectiveness of your organisation. Our emphasis is to partner with organisations in order to understand the disputes, conflicts and problems that you may be facing. Our team is experienced and able to work with you on both staff and student matters to facilitate solutions.
We focus on resolving the matters immediately at hand, and also to assist you to build sustainable, post-intervention solutions. Our emphasis is on creating a conciliatory framework in which disputes can be discussed, understood and resolved. We specialise particularly in the education sector: higher education, schools and vocational education organisations.
Testimonials
“Ian's expertise in facilitation ensured our strategic planning meeting stayed on track to achieve the set objectives. His highly effective facilitation and engagement techniques kept the group focused, and provided insight into the group's composition and working dynamics as well as encouraging and enabling decision making on the topics of discussion.” Tamara Bell Director – National/International Programs - Aviation and Aerospace Australia
“Ian Smith worked with my senior leadership team as we faced a very challenging and complex organisational change process. Ian’s significant knowledge of the change process and experience in supporting and guiding both impacted staff and their managers through what can be a very emotionally charged and draining experience was invaluable. I found Ian’s willingness to work with me in Western Australia extremely useful. Following a week of meetings and workshops facilitated by Ian in Perth, we used a combination of Skype, phone calls and email to continue working together remotely. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Ian Smith’s consulting business to any leader faced with a change management process or any challenging human resource issues.“ Liz Burke - (former) Director, Library and Information Services, Murdoch University, 2014
"On behalf of the Board I thank you, Sylvia, for your working during a time of extremely challenging circumstances with calm wisdom and a delicacy of touch that has led to a clear solution…. Your sharp mind was complimented by a low key (humble) approach, subtlety and a capacity to move forward meaningful discussion." Chairperson, School Board, November 2014
"As a small staff team facing fast change, increased funds and new workers we were feeling the pace and the stress! Working on change with Ian was great fun and helped us all to understand each other better and appreciate the roles we played as individuals and as a team. As we worked on planning for the future we were able to operate more effectively. The VANISH staff team is looking forward to working with Ian again soon." Coleen Clare - Manager VANISH Inc, 2014
"Thank you, Sylvia, for the Report. I appreciated very much your approach and engagement with all our staff. Having had some natural trepidation about the process, I found the experience refreshing and even uplifting to be able to discuss some very deep matters and my own pathway in confidential and supportive meetings. You have a very prescient quality that enables you to engage fully within our methods and philosophy in a short amount of time. I now have the confidence needed to make the decisions that will move our organisation forward." CEO and School Principal, June 2014