PRACTICE BELIEF

 A restorative process is the application of using restorative practices, it’s a ‘sense making’ of a shared concern or conflict that moves through a series of emotional stages.  Making sense together has the effect of transforming conflict into cooperation.  Restorative practices can help establish, maintain, deepen, and repair relationships.

PRINCIPALS THAT UNDERPIN RESTORATIVE PRACTICE ARE:  

• Cause no further harm.  
• Work with all involved.
• Set the relationships right. 

A restorative process using the above restorative practices should enable all involved to work together towards negotiation of a shared understanding.

 The approach should follow a common sequence of stages to which those involved can reach a common understanding and an agreement on the next steps. 

By being able to answer or respond to: 

• What happened? ‘and 
• How has each person been affected and impacted?’   
• and what now needs to be done to reduce any further harm?  
• What type of situation are we dealing with? 
• What are we looking for as a desired outcome?   

The nimbleness of this model means different formats of bringing people together can be used for different cases and after the initial consultation and investigation has taken place for each, for example, if there is a resistance to attending school after an incident has taken place there, the meeting could be held in a local library.

 A restorative process can be valuable in situations where relationships between individuals, families and community members etc. share a common concern or conflict.  This type of strategic relationship management is essential to be able to set things right.  The process may help relationships that are:  

•  Already positive but could be deepened.  
• Be established, meeting people for the first time.  
• Simply no longer involve conflict, become neutral.  
• Or formally end by mutual agreement 

Restorative practice within Justice can have benefits for people affected by any type of crime, and those who have offended, as long as both parties are willing to take part. Family and community support is vital to assist change across community.

Restorative practice withing education can have benefits that help children and young people opens the door to stronger relationships and supportive change. This assists children and young people up for lifelong learning and holds everyone accountable.

Restorative practice within families can have benefits that assist putting supports in place to help work with them and find solutions that last and keep children and young people safe. For some families this may be a new way of operating and opens the door to have conversations around impact of actions and how things can be different.

As a facilitator of this work, we must manage our own thoughts and bias to support participants, meaning the facilitator doesn’t impose their viewpoint on anyone involved but they help people to consider multiple viewpoints of the story. The facilitator must be constantly alert, allowing people to express what they need but then return to a sequence. They are neutral, connected, and ready for the next session at any time.