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Our Services
We specialise in Family Dispute Resolution through our Nationally Accredited Mediators who assist parents in navigating through matters relating to children and property that need to be addressed when going through separation and divorce. We aim to minimise the toll of separation and divorce as we guarantee mediation within 5 days of initial contact (depending on parents' availability).
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
Family Dispute Resolution & Mediation
Because Family Law matters are often highly emotive, parties can often be assisted through mediation, which is a negotiation process that is guided by the mediator who assists both parties in identifying the issues, generating options, and resolving disputes by reaching agreements that specifically address the issues.
Family Dispute Resolution
Family Dispute Resolution (or Family Mediation) is the process through which parents in conflict can meet, discuss and reach agreement on parenting issues and financial matters, all with the assistance of an objective and neutral third party (the mediator) in a calm and professional environment.
Parenting Plans
Parenting Plans are agreements about parental responsibilities after separation concerning where children will live, who will be caring for them and for what periods of time. Once these agreements are signed and dated by both parents, they become a Parenting Plan.
Financial Agreements
Financial Agreements deal with any property, investments, shares and other assets and liabilities. Mediation is the quickest and most cost-effective process for reaching settlement. Our mediators provide formalised agreements to both parties at the end of the mediation.
Child-Inclusive Mediation
After speaking with each parent separately, a trained child consultant (child psychologist) spends time with each child and uses therapeutic tools and strategies to determine how they are coping and what may need to change. The child consultant then provides feedback to the parents during the mediation.
Section 60I Certificates
Section 601 Certificates are required before an application for Parenting Orders can be made to the Family Court, unless the application falls within an exception. Our mediators are approved by the Federal Attorney-General's Department to provide Section 60I Certificates.
Child Support
Child Support Agreements deal with how parents financially support their children, including day-to-day costs of living, school fees, uniforms and books, tuition costs, general medical and health-care costs, and specific healthcare costs (such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy).
Child Support Calculator
During mediation, when dealing with issues relating to child support, the child support calculator enables parents to calculate the extent that they need to financially support their children. Such child support calculators can be accessed on the Child Support Agency website.
De Facto Relationships & Separation
The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) defines a de facto relationship in Section 4AA as a relationship that two people, whether of the opposite sex or same sex (who are not married or related by family) have, as a couple, been living together on a “genuine domestic basis”. The circumstances of the relationship will have a bearing on whether or not a de facto relationship is deemed to have existed.
Divorce & Mediation
The grounds for divorce in Australia is that a marriage has irretrievably broken down with “no fault” of either party. The husband and wife must have been separated for at least 12 months, and if the couple have been married for less than two years, then relationship counselling is compulsory.
Grandparents & Mediation for Grandchildren
The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) allows the Family Court to make orders in “the best interests of the child”, and grandparents are specifically permitted in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) to apply to the Family Court for orders relating to their grand-child, specifically for their grandchild to live with or spend time with them regardless of whether the child’s parents are separated or still together.
Parenting Plan & Draft Consent Orders for Children
A Parenting Plan is the parents’ written agreement as to a range of issues involving the child, including but not limited to who the child lives with and spends time with, parental responsibility, decision making, and arrangements for the child, whereas Consent Orders are a formal, legally binding agreement of the Family Court after the parents have filed Draft Consent Orders with the Family Court.
Property Settlement at Mediation
When seeking to divide property and finances, parties may seek either a Binding Financial Agreement (a legally binding and enforceable financial agreement relating to property) or Consent Orders (by submitting to the Family Court Draft Consent Orders, which are only ratified as Consent Orders if they are “just and equitable”).
Mediation & Domestic Violence
Mediation is required under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) before an application for court orders can be made, and if a party fails to participate, a Section 60I Certificate is issued to that effect. One exception to this is if there are reasonable grounds to ascertain that family violence has occurred, or there is a risk of it occurring.
Relocation & Overseas Travel with a Child
When considering relocation and overseas travel, the most important factor to the Family Court is the best interests of the child. Relocation may be permitted where there is a compelling case for it due to employment, family support or re-marriage, and where the Family Court is satisfied that the other parent’s contact with the child will be facilitated.
Going to the Family Court versus Mediation
Going to the Family Court is a lengthy process and has many disadvantages. Prior to commencing the court process with an Initiating Application, there may be a requirement for compulsory Family Dispute Resolution to take place. In contrast, mediation has numerous advantages, including being confidentiality, providing promptness, and allowing the parties to make the decisions.
Child Support & Mediation
Both parents have a financial responsibility to their child to feed, shelter, clothe, educate and pay for medical costs, among other expenses that a child requires. This responsibility exists even after parents have separated, even if the child does not live with that parent. Child support provides for this responsibility.
To start the mediation process, simply click the button below:
DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is for general guidance only. No person should act or refrain from acting on the basis of this information. Professional legal advice should be sought based upon your particular circumstances, because laws and regulations undergo frequent changes.
