Mediations Australia

Divorce and separation are difficult times for everyone, but especially for children. Loss, grief, pain, resentment, and failure are all emotions that both spouses may feel. Courtrooms may prolong such trying moments.

This is where family law mediation comes in.

Mediation is a way of resolving conflicts between people who are at odds, usually with the help of a neutral third party. Separated families are urged to use family mediation rather than the family law courts to address child custody disputes.

People use the term “mediation” in a variety of ways. It can be as simple as seeking the support of a friend or family member to talk through the concerns at hand. A formal process employing a professional mediator can also be used.

Disputes can be between simply two people or between extended family members. When there are concerns about the safety of children, mediation may include full family group conferencing.

If a dispute cannot be settled through mediation, it may be necessary to take the case to court, where a judge will make the final decision. Going to court is a time-consuming, stressful, and costly process. The goal of family law mediation is to keep things from getting to this point.

Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a type of mediation that assists separating families in reaching their own agreements. Families will debate the problems in contention and examine various possibilities throughout FDR while being urged to focus on their children’s needs. An impartial and accredited Family Dispute Resolution practitioner is used in FDR.

FDR’s major goal is to help participants create a parenting plan that outlines the agreed-upon future parenting arrangements.

It is a cost-effective and practical solution for separated families to work out future parenting arrangements with professional assistance. See the Family Dispute Resolution Factsheet for further information.

Mediation allows all parties engaged in a disagreement to take control of the situation and participate actively in reaching an agreement on a resolution. Its ability to save relationships has led to it becoming a highly sought-after alternative to the legal system.

Other advantages of mediation include:

• Control
• Cost and time savings
• Confidentiality
• Flexibility
• Increased compliance
• Maintaining your relationship
• Support
• Legal enforceability without the costs

At Mediators Australia, we are pedantic about the skills and capabilities of our Mediators. Each member of our team is a licensed family lawyer with extensive expertise in practising both family law and mediation. Our mediators are all certified by the Department of the Federal Attorney-General as Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners.

If you are involved in a family dispute, talk with one of our Mediators for free who will answer all your questions relating to mediation and family law.