While Family Dispute Resolution may not be suitable for all families, most parties in FDR mediation are able to reach agreement in one or two full-day sessions.

Family Dispute Resolution

Family mediation saves time and money as parties are assisted to resolve issues between them without having to go through an intimidating and formal court process. FDR mediation also avoids the stress and anxiety of court, where a judge decides what is best for the children, instead of the parents working together in the best interests of the children.

Some of the issues arising in FDR mediation can include care of and time spent with children, parental guidelines and contact with extended family members including grandparents and new partners. Communication guidelines between parents and children are agreed to as well as education and schools, plus significant events such as birthdays, travel, passports and relocation, as well as any special needs of children and parents.

  • Clearly identify issues in dispute
  • Facilitate exploration of these issues
  • Consider workable options for moving forward
  • Reach an agreement for co-parenting
Find out more about the mediation process HERE

Benefits of mediation vs court

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 More

Getting started with an intake session

The mediation process begins with an intake session, which occurs on a separate day prior to the mediation.

The pre-mediation intake session is a separate and confidential meeting between the mediator and each individual party. It can happen over the phone, online or as an in-person meeting. Each party must go through the intake session individually before we can proceed to the mediation.

The purpose of this first step is for the mediator to understand the circumstances of your situation and dispute – what brought you to mediation, what you hope to achieve from mediation and anything else we may need to know about you and your situation 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 facilitate the mediation successfully.

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.

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 your situation.

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.