Neighbourhood Dispute Resolution
If disputes between neighbours continue unresolved, serious consequences can surface beyond the specifics of the conflict, including a decline in mental wellbeing arising from social disconnection and withdrawal from the community
With a rise in high density living and more people working from home, disputes between neighbours have also increased proportionately. And what makes this type of conflict particularly distressing is there is no escaping it. For many of us, home is a sanctuary – a place of safety and familiarity, so when conflict arises with a neighbour, our quality of life is seriously compromised, which left to worsen, can lead to serious mental and physical health impacts. Often these types of disputes can very easily become heated and escalate rapidly to the point where a personal approach such as talking things through ‘over the fence’ is no longer an option.
Neighbour dispute resolution is an effective and practical alternative to the cost and complexity of court. Entering mediation offers both parties the opportunity to work together to reach an agreement that will enable them to again enjoy time spent at home in proximity to the neighbour, avoiding a drawn out and costly court battle or one of the impacted neighbours feeling they have no other alternative but to move against their wishes.
Neighbour dispute resolution involves the mediator acting as an independent and impartial third-party responsible for guiding neighbours in dispute through a structured process that allows them to identify, explore and resolve issues between them. Communication is managed by the mediator, who will support and guide the parties to develop options and solutions to reach an agreement together. This process provides parties with an environment where they can shift from conflict, into a more positive and constructive form of communication.
Benefits of neighbour dispute resolution
- Allows parties to discuss the issues between them privately outside of the neighbourhood setting
- Ensures quick and effective response to issues, reducing impact on other household members, apartment residents and wider neighbourhood
- Strengthens communication and understanding between neighbours
- Improves collaboration through parties working together to resolve disputes
Neighbourhood dispute resolution can
help resolv issues concerning
- trees / plants
- retaining walls
- fences
- common facilities
- animals
- tresspass
- privacy
- plumbing
- children
- parking
- noise
- views
- access
- contsruction
Mediation is a confidential process aimed at resolving conflict in the workplace quickly and effectively, with minimal impact to the people involved and the organisation as a whole.
Benefits of mediation vs court
Faster
Mediation usually takes between a half and full day, which is far quicker than going through the court system
Confidentiality
Mediation is confidential and take place in private settings whereas matters heard and decided in court generally are reported with transcriptions being made available to the public.
Informal + Flexible
Mediation is an informal process where the mediator acts as a supportive but neutral presence for both parties. Courts are more formal, intimating to many and are adversarial.
Cost Effective
Mediation costs significantly less than going through the court system where each party requires their own legal representation.
Control
Mediation allows parties to a dispute participate directly in the process of reaching agreement, giving parties more control over the outcome.
Promotes Communication
Mediation promotes direct communication between the parties opening up pathways for solutions and agreement, whereas the courts process can be adversarial and combative.
Face to Face Mediation + Online Mediation
At Fresh Start mediation we offer face to face mediation or online mediation.
We assist parties to resolve disputes in an environment that is informal, neutral and fair, so that agreements reached are durable and long-lasting, offering parties peace of mind to move forward into the future.
Learn More
Online mediation offers a practical and accessible alternative to face to face mediation for parties who do not reside in the same location or do not wish to be in the same room for their mediation.
Learn MoreGetting started with an intake session
The mediation process begins with an intake session, prior to the day of mediation.
This can be via a phone call or in-person meeting. The pre-mediation intake session is a separate and confidential meeting between the mediator and each party. The purpose of this first step is for the mediator to understand the circumstances of your dispute situation – what brought you to mediation, what you hope to achieve and anything we may need to know about you that could impact the mediation – for example, whether you feel comfortable being in the same room as the other party, or whether you prefer online mediation. The more we know about your situation, the better placed we are to assist.
The intake session also gives us a chance to go through each phase of the mediation process with you – ensuring you understand exactly what to expect on the day. Each party must go through the intake session individually before we can proceed to the mediation. The intake session also gives the mediator the chance to assess whether your dispute is appropriate for mediation. Instances where mediation may not be an alternative to the courts would be in the case where there is a serious safety concern via an emotional, physical or psychological threat to one of the parties, or if one party flatly refuses to participate.
As a starting point, we encourage you to give us a call and have an obligation-free chat about mediation and how it may be suited to the nature of your dispute. If you are confident mediation is appropriate to the resolution of your dispute, then feel free to book your intake session, using the calendar tool below.
Start the mediation process by booking your intake meeting HERE
Give Fresh Start a call for an obligation-free discussion
At Fresh Start Mediation we understand you will probably have some questions. Fill in your details HERE and one of our team will give you a call, otherwise you are welcome to call us.
Fresh Start Mediation services the whole of Australia, offering face to face and online mediation options.
