Family Dispute Resolution

Family dispute resolution, also known as mediation, can provide people who are ending a marriage or long-term partnership with an effective and alternative method to the court system.

Mediation can help people reach agreement on a range of financial and property matters, and on issues relating to children or shared parenting. Guided by a skilled mediator, the process encourages people to discuss problems and develop solutions that make sense to them.

We can work with individuals, couples and children. Services are sensitive to culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous clients.

Mediation is not counselling, but it is more respectful of people's emotions than court processes and often helps people move on. It offers a path to a more satisfying future, allowing individuals to pursue separate lives, while continuing as parents. Parenting plans can also be developed and reviewed when needed through mediation.

Benefits of using family dispute resolution

Mediation takes place in an environment that helps reduce acrimony and conflict. The benefits of mediation will differ for each person, but some of the main advantages are:

• Individual intake and assesment to help safely work out your options
• Solutions which both people have helped to create
• Cost-effective process
• Resolution that is faster than through the legal system
• Sessions that can take place at mutually convenient times
• Service which is private and confidential.

Support for children

We can provide support and assistance to children before, during and after parental separation. 
iKiDs - Supoorting Children Post Separation is a service tailored specifically to help children.

Decision Making for One

This is a confidential, mediation service that can help you to develop your own skills in dealing with difficult situations, by assisting you to develop strategies and skills to handle situations more positively. It consists of a step-by-step analysis of a current conflict or situation, taking into account the perspectives that belong to you, and also to others involved. We will help you to look at alternative ways of dealing with the situation and you should be able to leave with a clear plan of how to deal with it.

Research among separated and divorced Australians show that more people were satisfied with the mediation experience than with the legal, Family Court or ‘do it yourself’ way of finalising a separation or divorce.

Family Dispute Resolution locations are shown on the right.

_{Family Dispute Resolution is provided by Relationships Australia (SA) and funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.}