Melbourne Mediation

Family breakdown is one of life’s most challenging experiences. Emotions run high, and decisions made during this time affect you and your children for years to come. Our Melbourne family law mediators provide compassionate, professional support to help separating couples reach workable agreements.

Under the Family Law Act 1975, couples must generally attempt Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) before applying to court for parenting orders. Our registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners conduct FDR sessions that comply with all legislative requirements and issue the Section 60I certificates needed for court applications.

But family mediation isn’t just about meeting legal requirements. It’s about finding solutions that truly work for your family. Through mediation, you can craft parenting arrangements tailored to your children’s specific needs, divide property in ways that make practical sense, and maintain a co-parenting relationship that serves your children’s best interests.

Our family law mediation services include:

• Parenting plan development and negotiation
• Property settlement discussions
• Financial agreement negotiations
• Spousal maintenance arrangements
• Child support dispute resolution
• Section 60I certificate issuance
• De facto relationship matters
• Grandparent access disputes

Workplace conflicts damage productivity, hurt morale, and expose organisations to costly legal claims. Our Melbourne workplace mediators help employers and employees resolve disputes quickly and confidentially, often preserving employment relationships and avoiding formal proceedings.

Whether you’re dealing with interpersonal conflicts between team members, bullying or harassment allegations, performance management disputes, or unfair dismissal matters, workplace mediation offers a faster, cheaper, and less adversarial path to resolution than tribunals or courts.

The Fair Work Commission encourages mediation for workplace disputes, and many matters referred to Fair Work are resolved through conciliation or mediation rather than formal hearings. Our mediators understand employment law, workplace dynamics, and the practical realities of maintaining functional working relationships.

Our workplace mediation services help with:

• Employee-to-employee conflicts
• Manager-employee disputes
• Bullying and harassment matters
• Discrimination complaints
• Unfair dismissal discussions
• Contract and entitlement disputes
• Redundancy disagreements
• Team dysfunction and conflict

Business disputes drain resources, distract from operations, and can destroy valuable commercial relationships. Our Melbourne business mediators help companies, partnerships, and individuals resolve commercial conflicts efficiently while protecting ongoing business interests.

Commercial litigation is notoriously expensive and unpredictable. A contract dispute that goes to court can cost $100,000+ in legal fees alone, take years to resolve, and still produce an outcome neither party is happy with. Mediation typically resolves commercial disputes in a day or less, at a fraction of the cost, with outcomes both parties have agreed to.

Our commercial mediators have extensive experience with partnership disputes, shareholder conflicts, contract disagreements, franchise issues, and professional negligence claims. We understand that business disputes aren’t just about legal rights—they’re about practical outcomes that allow parties to move forward productively.

Our business mediation services cover:

• Partnership and shareholder disputes
• Contract and commercial disagreements
• Supplier and customer conflicts
• Franchise disputes
• Construction and building matters
• Intellectual property conflicts
• Professional negligence claims
• Joint venture disagreements

Disputes over wills, inheritances, and estates are complicated by grief, family dynamics, and long-standing tensions. Our Melbourne estate mediators provide sensitive, professional support to help families resolve these difficult matters without destroying relationships or depleting the estate through litigation.

In Victoria, family provision claims must generally be filed within six months of probate being granted. The Supreme Court typically requires parties to attempt mediation before proceeding to a contested hearing. Estate litigation is expensive—legal costs often significantly erode the estate itself, leaving less for everyone.

Mediation offers a way to preserve estate assets, resolve disputes faster, maintain family relationships where possible, and achieve flexible solutions that courts cannot order. Our estate mediators understand the legal framework, the emotional dynamics, and the practical considerations involved in these sensitive matters.

Our estate mediation services address:

• Will contests and validity challenges
• Family provision claims
• Executor disputes and removal
• Beneficiary disagreements
• Estate administration conflicts
• Trust disputes
• Power of attorney conflicts
• Inheritance disagreements

Property disputes—whether involving real estate boundaries, neighbour conflicts, landlord-tenant issues, or co-ownership disagreements—can be stressful and costly. Our Melbourne property mediators help parties reach practical solutions without tribunal or court proceedings.

The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (DSCV) provides free mediation for some property disputes. For complex matters or where DSCV services aren’t available, our professional mediators offer expert-led mediation that resolves even challenging disputes efficiently.

Personal Injury Mediation Melbourne

Most personal injury claims—whether from motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, or public liability incidents—settle through mediation rather than contested court hearings. Our mediators facilitate productive settlement discussions between injured parties and insurers, helping claimants receive fair compensation faster.

In Victoria, mediation is typically required before personal injury matters proceed to trial. Our experienced mediators understand the negotiation dynamics, legal frameworks, and practical considerations involved in achieving fair settlements.

Beyond our core mediation services, Mediations Australia Melbourne assists with a wide range of dispute resolution needs:

Family Law Additional Services:

• Consent Orders preparation and filing
• Binding Financial Agreement negotiations
• Child-inclusive mediation (with child consultants)
• Lawyer-assisted mediation sessions
• International family law matters
• Relocation disputes

Commercial & Workplace Additional Services:

• Pre-litigation commercial negotiations
• Contractual dispute facilitation
• Workplace investigation follow-up mediation
• Multi-party commercial mediations
• Industry-specific dispute resolution

Specialist Services:

• Elder mediation and aged care disputes
• Community and neighbourhood conflicts
• Strata and body corporate disputes
• Insurance claim negotiations
• Online and telephone mediation Australia-wide

Our mediators are available for both in-person sessions at our Melbourne CBD office and online mediation via secure video conferencing. We also offer after-hours and weekend appointments for urgent matters.

How much does mediation cost in Melbourne?

At Mediations Australia, we offer transparent, competitive pricing. Most family law disputes can be resolved for under $3,500 total (approximately $1,750 per party). Workplace and commercial mediations are quoted based on complexity. This represents massive savings compared to litigation costs of $50,000-$200,000+. We provide clear fee information during your free initial consultation. View our fee structure.

Is mediation legally required?

For parenting matters, yes—under the Family Law Act 1975, you must generally attempt Family Dispute Resolution before applying to the Federal Circuit and Family Court for parenting orders. You’ll need a Section 60I certificate from a registered FDRP. For property settlements, workplace disputes, and commercial matters, mediation isn’t legally required but is strongly encouraged and often produces better outcomes than litigation.

What types of disputes can be mediated?

Almost any dispute can be mediated, including: family law matters (parenting, property, divorce), workplace conflicts (bullying, unfair dismissal, discrimination), business disputes (partnerships, contracts, shareholders), estate matters (will contests, inheritance), property disputes (boundaries, neighbours, landlord-tenant), and personal injury claims. The key requirement is that all parties are willing to participate in good faith.

How long does mediation take?

Simple disputes often resolve in a single 2-3 hour session. More complex matters typically require a half-day or full-day session. Some disputes need multiple sessions over several weeks. Even at the longer end, mediation is dramatically faster than court proceedings, which can take 1-3 years or more.

Do I need a lawyer for mediation?

Lawyers aren’t required for mediation, and many people participate successfully without legal representation. However, we recommend obtaining independent legal advice before finalising any significant agreement. For some matters, having a lawyer present (lawyer-assisted mediation) can be beneficial. Our mediators can work effectively whether parties have legal representation or not.

What happens if we can’t reach agreement?

If agreement isn’t reached, you still have options. For family law matters, you’ll receive the appropriate Section 60I certificate allowing court applications. For other disputes, parties can proceed to tribunal or court. Often, even “unsuccessful” mediations narrow the issues and facilitate later settlement. Many matters return to mediation at a later stage when circumstances have changed.

Is mediation confidential?

Yes. Mediation discussions are confidential and conducted on a “without prejudice” basis, meaning statements made during mediation generally cannot be used in later court proceedings. This confidentiality encourages open, honest discussion and allows parties to explore options without fear of prejudicing their position.

Can mediation happen online?

Absolutely. We offer fully online mediation via secure video conferencing. This option is popular with parties in different locations, those with mobility limitations, people with safety concerns, or anyone who prefers the convenience of participating from home or office. Online mediation is just as effective as in-person sessions.