Mediation

We strongly encourage both parties to seek legal advice and you are free to do so at any stage of the mediation process. If appropriate your mediator may decide to involve your legal representative in the mediation process, known also as Legally Assisted Mediation. If you don't have legal advice please ask your mediator for a referral. 

Yes, you will receive a reminder text 48 hours before each appointment or session.

We will make reasonable attempts to contact your ex-partner to give them an opportunity to engage with the mediation process however, participation is voluntary and requires the consent of both parties. 

If your ex-partner or family member do not want to participate your mediator will decide on the best way forward. This may involve issuing a Section 60I certificate or providing you with other options on how you might be able to move forward.

If you and your ex-partner have been court ordered to attend mediation then it is a legal requirement that both of you engage in the process, making a genuine attempt to reach an agreement before returning to court. 

You've come to the right place. If you're reading this and are wondering what to do now that you and your partner have decided to separate we are here to help guide you. Try our mediation guide or call to find out more about which services is right for you. 

Yes we do. As well as mediation for parenting agreements (known as Family Dispute Resolution) we also offer mediation to help you and your ex-partner reach an outcome about your shared property, finance and assets. Please let us know at the time of booking what type of mediation you require, we can either do one or the other or both. 

Mediation is the broad term used to capture the process of utilising a neutral third party to help reach an agreement outside of court.

Family Dispute Resolution is a specialised form of mediation designed to assist families in resolving disputes around parenting arrangements after separation.  This approach prioritises the best outcome for the child and their future whilst supporting family members to resolve conflict and reach an agreement.

This is hard as depending on the circumstances, there may be several reasons why your child may be resisting time with the other parent. They may feel you will be upset if they spend time with the other parent or maybe they are feeling generally fearful and confused about what the right thing is to do. 

It's important to know there are steps that can be taken to support the child's relationship with both parents.  

We can help you arrange child-inclusive practice during your mediation process whereby a trained child consultant will speak with your child and provide feedback to you and the other parent about what's on their mind without the fear of upsetting either parent. We can also support you and your family with some of our counselling services. 

Please free free to talk to your mediator or our client experience team about how we can support you.

If you've received a letter inviting you to do mediation please contact us to make a free intake appointment.

The mediation will be in relation to a parenting and/or property and finance arrangement with an ex-partner or family member. We appreciate you may have many questions which we will be able to answer these during this appointment.

Unless an exception applies (such as family violence, child abuse or the matter is urgent), any parent or carer that is not in agreement about parenting matters and who wishes to apply to the court for a parenting order, needs to first demonstrate that they've made a genuine effort to reach an agreement through mediation. The Section 60I certificate is issued by a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner to show to the court that a party has attempted to participate in mediation. Not all matters are suitable for mediation and in such cases a 60I certificate may also be issued following  assessment.

Our practitioners (also known as Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) are the only type of mediator able to issue these certificate.

Please note that a 60I certificate is not required for property and financial matters.

Yes we can help. Mediation (known also as Family Dispute Resolution) can help you and the other parent work towards reaching an agreement regarding your children and parenting arrangements. We can also provide you with a 60I Certificate should you need to resolve this via the courts.

You can find more information on our mediation page here or please call us to discuss your needs further.

Generally speaking, it should not take longer than 90 days between your first meeting with us and the completion of the joint mediation session. If your situation is complex and multiple sessions are required, or demand for the service is especially high, the process could take longer subject to practitioner availability.

Please know we strive to complete the process with you as soon as possible.

If you have court orders to attempt mediation you will need to make an appointment with us to commence the mediation process. Most court orders will have a date that you need to have engaged with us by so please don't hesitate in contacting us. We will also need a copy of your court orders at the time of making your appointment.

One of the purposes of mediation is to help separated parents and carers manage their feelings towards each other and focus on the needs of their children. This means that participants will have to explore constructive ways to communicate with each other. The mediator is present to help and encourage you to work with each other directly to reach agreements. In some cases this direct communication may not be productive in which case the mediator may consider several options such as conducting mediation over the phone or online.

In some cases mediation can be conducted with participants in separate rooms. This will be decided by the mediator following discussions with you during your intake assessment and pre-mediation interviews. If you have any fears, hesitation, or concerns about how mediation will take place please discuss them freely with your mediator during your initial appointment. The safety of all participants is our primary concern.

We are a proud not-for-profit that is primarily government funded so we are able to offer our mediation services at a reduced rate when compared to private mediation services.   

The intake, pre-mediation sessions and the first hour of joint mediation do not incur any cost. Costs may be incurred after the 1st hour of the joint session. 

For full details please discuss with your practitioner during your free intake appointment.

See also our fee schedule here.

We always recommend you obtain legal advice as it will provide you with the legal information relevant to your situation. It is a valuable step to take and will give you a better idea about the possible outcomes and limitations of the decisions you make whilst setting you up with clear expectations before going into mediation.

If you are unsure about where to seek legal advice you can ask your mediator during the intake session.

No, parenting and property/financial mediation are considered separately and are different processes, independent of each other. In most cases these will need to be done one after the other usually with the parenting agreement as the priority.

Please make an appointment to speak with a mediator so they can guide you on the best way forward