Profile: Jim Hardeman

Jim Hardeman and Stephen Page I had the privilege recently of catching up with Jim Hardeman. Jim, from Plymouth near Boston, Massachusetts, has long been recognised as a pioneer in dealing with the issues of domestic violence and the related workplace violence. Jim was a prison guard, social worker, then the Director of Polaroid’s Employee… Read More »Custom Single Post Header

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board

Profile: Jim Hardeman

Jim Hardeman and Stephen Page

I had the privilege recently of catching up with Jim Hardeman. Jim, from Plymouth near Boston, Massachusetts, has long been recognised as a pioneer in dealing with the issues of domestic violence and the related workplace violence.

Jim was a prison guard, social worker, then the Director of Polaroid’s Employee Assistance Program, where he took action to end workplace violence and the closely related one of support to ending domestic violence affecting employees. As part of his attempts to challenge the behaviour of other staff, Jim was threatened, but followed through.

It is clear in talking to Jim that he has cojones, and is prepared
to take action, not just talk tough to take action, not just talk tough about domestic violence.

From Polaroid, Jim then morphed into his current career, which was to provide support to corporations in dealing with workplace violence, and reducing the incidence of domestic violence amongst employees. Jim is the founder of Workplace Violence Intervention Strategies, Inc. and has helped set up CEO Challenge, which links the corporate world with domestic violence shelters, in a bid to reduce the amount of domestic violence, provide for employees, and increase corporate responsibility.

Australians are lucky that Jim is regularly visiting our shores, assisting with CEO Challenge.

Jim was telling me that in his spare time (!) he has been involved with a community organisation which has former Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley on its board,
Jim Soorley
which sponsors a number of indigenous students to go to the USA to meet other indigenous students, and vice versa.

Jim, enjoy your time in Australia!

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART