Parenting Coordination is not a new thing, there has been a shift toward parents hiring a Parenting Coordinator to help them navigate and, hopefully, resolve issues that may emerge in regard to parenting plans. The use of a Parenting Coordinator has been increasingly popular in recent years, with the purpose of reducing friction between parents and aiding them in handling their co-parenting responsibilities even after the case has gone to court.

Why it’s a good thing is because following separation, in the context of family law, there are lots of moving parts and getting clarity and help with the most important thing, “parenting,” and how it’s going to roll post your separation makes very good sense.

It goes without saying that divorce or separation is stressful and painful for everyone involved, but it is especially challenging for families with small children.

The fundamental worry of many parents is that their children have the opportunity to spend meaningful time with both parents. If no agreement can be reached, a judge will make decisions about how much time the children should spend with each of their parents. If no agreement can be reached, a judge will make decisions about how much time the kids should spend with each of their parents. This decision may be one that neither of you is happy about. At Mediations Australia, we’re early resolution focused and our primary objective is to empower you and your former partner to make decisions yourselves without having to outsource that decision making to the court.

How does Parenting Coordination (PC) operate and what does it entail?

Parenting Coordination is a child-centered strategy for divorcing or separated parents who are having disagreements about what’s right for their children. It’s a type of alternative dispute resolution for parents that can help them plan their ongoing parenting arrangements before, during, and after orders are made in relation to parenting.

What does a Parenting Coordinator actually do?

A Parenting Coordinator (PC) works closely with both parents to help them in implementing court orders and parenting agreements. They also help parents build effective and long-lasting conflict resolution skills and co-parenting decisions so that their children are not exposed to these problems. Parenting Coordinators also help children keep a sense of security and trust with their parents by lowering stress during home transitions, providing a more calm home atmosphere, and aiding children in maintaining a sense of security and trust with their parents.

The following benefits of Parenting Coordination have been reported multiple times:

• A priority is to boost the child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Increasing the chances of both parents remaining active in their children’s lives.
• The child’s stress symptoms lessen as the level of parental disagreement reduces.
• Creating a firm set of ground rules in the areas of communication and engagement that their parents follow.

Parents who continue to educate their children will also reap long-term rewards, which include the following:

• A priority is to educate parents about the detrimental impacts of parental conflict on their children’s development.
• Involvement of parents in the creation of a detailed parenting strategy.
• During separation and divorce, teach parents how to regulate their anger, communicate effectively, and resolve problems with their children.

Parenting coordination, unlike parenting planning, is not a step in the process of creating a parenting plan. In order to function efficiently, a Parenting Coordinator must work within the limits of current agreements and/or court orders. Any current agreements and/or court orders will not be able to be changed by the Parenting Coordinator. In contrast to mediation, which is a confidential process, parents are held accountable for their conduct in Parenting Coordination. To ensure that improvement is accomplished, both parents are held accountable for their activities.

The Most Effective Way to Reach a Parenting Coordinator

Parents can seek help from a trained Parenting Coordinator on their own, or they can be referred by their lawyer or the court system. Parenting Coordinators will sign a contract outlining the conditions of the engagement, the procedure, and both parents’ and the Parenting Coordinator’s expectations. The cost of the Parenting Coordinator is divided evenly among the parents and is discussed directly between them.

At Mediations Australia, we have Parenting Coordinators who are a part of our team. We have a team of family lawyers and mediators who can assist you in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne….and all other locations in Australia.