What is Family Law Mediation?
Family Dispute Resolution is a co-operative dispute resolution process involving several distinct stages.
1. Initial contact
You can contact Psychology and Mediation Services during office hours on 07 5440 5711 to find out about the services we offer, to discuss your specific situation or to make an appointment for a personal interview.
2. Intake interview
I will meet with you separately and then your former partner, or other party, before a Family Dispute Resolution session can be booked.
3. During this interview, the mediator will:
Listen to your side of the story and help clarify your concerns and possible solutions. We also help you to decide whether mediation will be helpful for you and, specifically, explore any matters such as violence, abuse, drug or alcohol use, which could make mediation unsafe, unfair or unsuitable. Furthermore we give you information on the Family Dispute Resolution process and help you to adequately prepare for mediation. Other topics may include suggestions of appropriate referrals for legal advice, counselling, income support or other sources of assistance such as Child Support Agency or Centrelink.
4. First Family Dispute Resolution session
At the first session:
4.1 The mediator/s will explain the process.
4.2 You will each have the opportunity to outline your own view of the dispute without any interruptions.
4.3 The mediator/s will help you break down the dispute into manageable issues; develop an agreed agenda and a plan of action for how you will go about tackling each of the issues.
4.4 When financial issues are involved, preparation of a joint financial statement and other data collection is commenced.
Subsequent Family Dispute Resolution sessions
Sometimes the issues you have identified can all be resolved in one mediation session. However, it is not uncommon to take two or three sessions. The mediator/s will help you communicate directly on each issue, examine a range of possible solutions and work towards an agreement which takes into account everyone’s needs and concerns. We usually allow three hours for each mediation session.
Private Sessions
You may ask to speak individually (and confidentially) with the mediator/s at any stage during the process. The mediator/s may call a private session if the discussions get ‘stuck’. We often have a break during a session and you, or the mediator/s, can call a break at any time.
Agreements reached in mediation are not legally binding. Generally, they can easily be converted into enforceable Court registered agreements or Consent Orders.
We recommend throughout the mediation process that you obtain independent legal advice.
Mediators and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners are professionally qualified. Anne Marie Box is a qualified Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution practitioner with national accreditation. She is also a registered psychologist and associate member of the APS.
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