Qualifications
- Diploma of Social Work, Canterbury, 1988
- CQSW 1988
- BA (Hons) Social Work, Canterbury, 1992
Memberships
Rodger from 2014 has been an Associate (FDR) of the Arbitrators & Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ)
Accreditation
Since September 2014 Rodger has been an FDR Provider for Presbyterian Support/Family Works Central and is one of the five founding Providers for Canterbury Family Dispute Resolution (CFDR) a supplier to the Ministry of Justice which offers a non-funded service.
Working initially from 2014 as an FDR sole practitioner, in April 2017 Southern Mediation Services was formed, where he was joined by other mediators which now gives a broad range of experience to the practice outside that initially provided.
Experience
Rodger has spent 35 years working with children and families in various areas of New Zealand, and in the UK
His work began as a social worker, progressing through to senior management, covering all areas of statutory social work, including Child Protection, Family Group Conferences, Looked after Children/Young People, Adoption, Fostering, Guardianship, Custody/Access, Permanence, Family/Whanau/Kinship Care, Residential Care and Youth Justice.
Recently a Todd Foundation research grant to Family Works has enabled Rodger to undertake research into the Voice of the Child in Family Dispute Resolution, with the primary aim of introducing children/young person’s participation to FDR within New Zealand.
His principal goal within Family Dispute Resolution is to help parents build a better understanding of their children’s needs and to mediate a better co-parenting relationship
Rodger’s extensive experience in family work is invaluable when it comes to FDR mediations. Rodger has a positive belief that when parents have the best interests of their children at heart, despite past difficulties and unresolved issues, it is possible to achieve constructive and effective mediated parenting plans.