Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
Mediator Standards Board (now AMDRAS)
Consulting
2018
BA, UX, Website design
The Mediator Standards Board (MSB) was established to improve the quality and consistency of mediation services in Australia. It oversees the ongoing development of the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS), first introduced in 2008 to lift professional standards across the field.
I led a multidisciplinary team that delivered strategic advisory, developed content, launched a new website with an online portal, and redesigned the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation.
The Mediator Standards Board (MSB) was established to improve the quality and consistency of mediation services in Australia. It oversees the ongoing development of the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS), first introduced in 2008 to lift professional standards across the field.
I led a multidisciplinary team that delivered strategic advisory, developed content, launched a new website with an online portal, and redesigned the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation.
The Mediator Standards Board (MSB) was established to improve the quality and consistency of mediation services in Australia. It oversees the ongoing development of the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS), first introduced in 2008 to lift professional standards across the field.
I led a multidisciplinary team that delivered strategic advisory, developed content, launched a new website with an online portal, and redesigned the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation.
Role & team
Role: User experience strategist & project lead
Team: Digital designer, Animator, Full stack engineer
Client: Board members, Administrative manager
Role: User experience strategist & project lead
Team: Digital designer, Animator, Full stack engineer
Client: Board members, Administrative manager
Role: User experience strategist & project lead
Team: Digital designer, Animator, Full stack engineer
Client: Board members, Administrative manager
Tasks
Business analysis
User journey mapping
Marketing strategies & tactics
Content strategy
Website design
Business analysis
User journey mapping
Marketing strategies & tactics
Content strategy
Website design
Business analysis
User journey mapping
Marketing strategies & tactics
Content strategy
Website design
Deliverables
Brand refresh
Information architecture
Website & member area
2x informative animation videos
Brand refresh
Information architecture
Website & member area
2x informative animation videos
Brand refresh
Information architecture
Website & member area
2x informative animation videos
9
board members engaged
60+
documents housed in an easy access library
150
members onboarded to an online portal
2
informational videos, replacing 8 pages of documentation
Background & Brief
Hired to replatform an incumbent website.
Through clarifying the brief, the focus evolved to:
Simplify the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation, untangling a complex, multi-step process.
Build an online portal for 150 accredited mediators.
Create an accessible library of 60+ legal documents.
Guide future content strategy to deliver helpful, industry-wide insights.
Hired to replatform an incumbent website.
Through clarifying the brief, the focus evolved to:
Simplify the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation, untangling a complex, multi-step process.
Build an online portal for 150 accredited mediators.
Create an accessible library of 60+ legal documents.
Guide future content strategy to deliver helpful, industry-wide insights.
Hired to replatform an incumbent website.
Through clarifying the brief, the focus evolved to:
Simplify the end-to-end journey for mediators seeking accreditation, untangling a complex, multi-step process.
Build an online portal for 150 accredited mediators.
Create an accessible library of 60+ legal documents.
Guide future content strategy to deliver helpful, industry-wide insights.
Challenges
Aligning board perspectives and vision
The Mediator Standards Board comprises mediators from across Australia, representing diverse areas of practice. Aligning this dispersed group on priorities and a shared organisational vision was critical to achieving successful outcomes.Outdated and fragmented systems
The MSB’s technology had grown in a piecemeal fashion over the years. An outdated CMS, combined with a reliance on a manual weekly process for reviewing and uploading files, made the system unsustainable.
Aligning board perspectives and vision
The Mediator Standards Board comprises mediators from across Australia, representing diverse areas of practice. Aligning this dispersed group on priorities and a shared organisational vision was critical to achieving successful outcomes.Outdated and fragmented systems
The MSB’s technology had grown in a piecemeal fashion over the years. An outdated CMS, combined with a reliance on a manual weekly process for reviewing and uploading files, made the system unsustainable.
Aligning board perspectives and vision
The Mediator Standards Board comprises mediators from across Australia, representing diverse areas of practice. Aligning this dispersed group on priorities and a shared organisational vision was critical to achieving successful outcomes.Outdated and fragmented systems
The MSB’s technology had grown in a piecemeal fashion over the years. An outdated CMS, combined with a reliance on a manual weekly process for reviewing and uploading files, made the system unsustainable.
Solution
The Mediator Standards Board and experience overhaul involved efforts to: reposition, replatform and reeducate, through:
Single, Unified Platform: One content website with a secure portal for 150 accredited mediators, replacing outdated, fragmented systems.
Streamlined Accreditation Journey: Simplified multi-step process with two animated videos for clarity and efficiency.
Accessible Knowledge Library: Centralised 60+ legal documents in a searchable, accessible library with version control.
Future-Focused Content Strategy: Content plan delivering ongoing industry insights, guidance, and sector updates to engage mediators and support the board.
The Mediator Standards Board and experience overhaul involved efforts to: reposition, replatform and reeducate, through:
Single, Unified Platform: One content website with a secure portal for 150 accredited mediators, replacing outdated, fragmented systems.
Streamlined Accreditation Journey: Simplified multi-step process with two animated videos for clarity and efficiency.
Accessible Knowledge Library: Centralised 60+ legal documents in a searchable, accessible library with version control.
Future-Focused Content Strategy: Content plan delivering ongoing industry insights, guidance, and sector updates to engage mediators and support the board.
The Mediator Standards Board and experience overhaul involved efforts to: reposition, replatform and reeducate, through:
Single, Unified Platform: One content website with a secure portal for 150 accredited mediators, replacing outdated, fragmented systems.
Streamlined Accreditation Journey: Simplified multi-step process with two animated videos for clarity and efficiency.
Accessible Knowledge Library: Centralised 60+ legal documents in a searchable, accessible library with version control.
Future-Focused Content Strategy: Content plan delivering ongoing industry insights, guidance, and sector updates to engage mediators and support the board.
9
board members engaged
60+
documents housed in an easy access library
150
members onboarded to an online portal
2
informational videos, replacing 8 pages of documentation
Conclusions
The unified platform replaced fragmented, outdated systems, significantly reducing administrative burden for the Mediator Standards Board.
Mediators now experience a streamlined, clear, and engaging journey through accreditation, supported by informative resources and animation videos. At the same time, the board has a sustainable framework for content creation and ongoing industry engagement, ensuring timely, relevant, and accessible guidance for the mediation community.
The unified platform replaced fragmented, outdated systems, significantly reducing administrative burden for the Mediator Standards Board.
Mediators now experience a streamlined, clear, and engaging journey through accreditation, supported by informative resources and animation videos. At the same time, the board has a sustainable framework for content creation and ongoing industry engagement, ensuring timely, relevant, and accessible guidance for the mediation community.
The unified platform replaced fragmented, outdated systems, significantly reducing administrative burden for the Mediator Standards Board.
Mediators now experience a streamlined, clear, and engaging journey through accreditation, supported by informative resources and animation videos. At the same time, the board has a sustainable framework for content creation and ongoing industry engagement, ensuring timely, relevant, and accessible guidance for the mediation community.
Feedback
Biana Keys
Leading Mediator, Mediator Standards Board
"We needed an update on all fronts, and one that would support a whole industry of accredited practitioners. It felt like an overwhelming task for us, but Garth helped to break down and simplify the process.
He was patient, thorough, and supportive of our needs. He worked hard to understand what we required, and gave us tools and tasks to conceptualise and articulate what we envisaged. I would recommend Garth to anyone seeking to do the same."
"We needed an update on all fronts, and one that would support a whole industry of accredited practitioners. It felt like an overwhelming task for us, but Garth helped to break down and simplify the process.
He was patient, thorough, and supportive of our needs. He worked hard to understand what we required, and gave us tools and tasks to conceptualise and articulate what we envisaged. I would recommend Garth to anyone seeking to do the same."
"We needed an update on all fronts, and one that would support a whole industry of accredited practitioners. It felt like an overwhelming task for us, but Garth helped to break down and simplify the process.
He was patient, thorough, and supportive of our needs. He worked hard to understand what we required, and gave us tools and tasks to conceptualise and articulate what we envisaged. I would recommend Garth to anyone seeking to do the same."
Dan Miles
Lead engineer, Code4
"Garth is considered and pragmatic.
Working with Garth is refreshing, enlightening me to new ways of solving usability challenges while balancing these against technical limits. With a passion for visual communication at the heart of Garth's work, I'm always impressed at his capacity to upskill in new subjects as the project requires.
Beyond Garth's creativity, he is also a leader, able to build and align a team on a shared vision in an organic fashion. With his inclusive demeanour, I've always feel at ease working with Garth."
"Garth is considered and pragmatic.
Working with Garth is refreshing, enlightening me to new ways of solving usability challenges while balancing these against technical limits. With a passion for visual communication at the heart of Garth's work, I'm always impressed at his capacity to upskill in new subjects as the project requires.
Beyond Garth's creativity, he is also a leader, able to build and align a team on a shared vision in an organic fashion. With his inclusive demeanour, I've always feel at ease working with Garth."
"Garth is considered and pragmatic.
Working with Garth is refreshing, enlightening me to new ways of solving usability challenges while balancing these against technical limits. With a passion for visual communication at the heart of Garth's work, I'm always impressed at his capacity to upskill in new subjects as the project requires.
Beyond Garth's creativity, he is also a leader, able to build and align a team on a shared vision in an organic fashion. With his inclusive demeanour, I've always feel at ease working with Garth."