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What  is  Family  Dispute  Resolution?  

WHAT  IS  FAMILY  DISPUTE  RESOLUTION?  

The   family   law   system   encourages   parents   to   try   and   agree   on  arrangements  for  their  children  without  having  to  go  to  court.      Family   dispute   resolution   (FDR)   is   a   practical,   less   stressful   and  inexpensive   way   for   separating   families   to   sort   out   these  arrangements  with  help   from  a  FDR  practitioner  who  can  help  you  discuss   issues,   look   at   options   and   work   out   how   best   to   reach  agreement.  FDR  can  help  you  to  agree  on  a  range  of  issues  relating  to  property,  money,  and  most  importantly  –  your  children.    FDR  is  sometimes  referred  to  as  ‘mediation’,  and  FDR  practitioners  as  ‘mediators’.    

MEDIATION  

Mediation   is  a  process   in  which  the  participants,   together  with   the  assistance  of  a  neutral  third  party  go  through  the  issues  in  dispute  in  order   to   come  up  with   options,   and   to   help   the   participants   reach  their   own   agreement.   There   is   no   neutral   decision  maker   and   the  outcome  is  up  to  the  parties.    An   important   factor   in   mediation   is   that   participants   are   both  informed   and   empowered   to   make   appropriate   decisions   for  themselves.    This  service  will  also  facilitate   lawyer-‐assisted  mediations  and  work  co-‐operatively  with   legal,   financial  and  mental  health  professionals  to  enable  a  more  holistic  and  supportive  approach.    

Elisa  Turco  Accredited  Family  Law  Mediator  

 

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Important  points  to  note  with  mediation  –     Participants  are  responsible  for  their  own  decision-‐making.  A  

mediator  will  not  make  a  decision   for  you  nor   impose  one  on   you.   A   mediator   is   not   there   to   judge   you   or   your  position.  

  Mediators  must  be   neutral  and   impartial.  They  cannot   take  

sides.   They   can   help   you   to   explore   family   issues   in   an  objective  and  positive  way.  

  Mediators   control   the   process   and   clients   present   the  

content.   Mediators   set   the   rules   about   how   parties  communicate  and  behave  within  the  process.  

  Whilst  mediation  requires  open  and  honest  communication,  

there  is  also  confidentiality  within  and  outside  the  process.     Mediation   focuses   on   the   future,   not   past   events.   It   is   not  

counselling  or  therapy.  It  concentrates  on  resolving  specific  disputes.  

  Before  FDR  can  commence,  an  assessment  will  be  made   to  

see  whether  FDR  is  suitable  for  your  situation.     When  FDR  is  not  working,  the  FDR  practitioner  can  suggest  

other  options,  such  as  family  counselling.    

WHO  CAN  PROVIDE  FDR?  

Many  professionals  provide  mediation,  they  may  or  may  not  have  an  appropriate   qualification   in   mediation.   Qualified   mediators   may   or  may  not  be  accredited  FDR  practitioners.    Only   FDR   practitioners   accredited   by   the   Attorney-‐General’s  Department   can   issue   certificates   under   the   Family   Law   Act   1975.  FDR  practitioners  are  trained  in  mediation  and  family  law.  

IS  FDR  COMPULSORY?  

You  can  only  apply  to  a  family   law  court  for  a  parenting  order  when  you   have   a   certificate   from   an   accredited   FDR   practitioner,   which  states   that   you  have  made  a  genuine  effort   to   resolve   your   dispute  through  FDR.  The   requirement  to  participate   in  FDR  applies   to  new  applications,   and   applications   seeking   changes   to   an   existing  parenting  order.  There  are  some  exceptions  to  this  requirement,  your  FDR   practitioner   will   ascertain   whether   you   are   exempt   from   the  process.  

WHO  CAN  COME  WITH  ME?  

Mediation  usually  works  best  when  you  come  alone.    You   are   free   to   bring   a   support   person   to   your   initial   interview,   if  you  feel  this  will  make  the  process  easier  for  you.  Having  a  support  person  come   to   the   joint   sessions  will   require   the   consent   of  both  the  mediator  and  your  former  partner,  and  your  support  person  will  have  to  follow  some  basic  guidelines  provided  by  the  mediator.    Lawyers  are  welcome  to  attend  mediation  at  this  service,  as  long  as  your   mediator   and   the   other   party   agree.   Interpreters   are   also  welcome.  

WHAT  IF  MY  FORMER  PARTNER  WON’T  COME?  

Mediation   is  a  voluntary  process.  Whilst  we  will   try  to  engage  your  former  partner  to  participate  we  cannot  compel  them.  Either  party  is  free  to  leave  the  mediation  process  at  any  time.    

 

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DO  MY  CHILDREN  HAVE  TO  BE  INVOLVED?  

No,  children  are  not  usually  part  of  the  process.    Only  if  both  parties  and  the  mediator  feel  it  will  be  beneficial  to  the  process   will   the   children   become   involved.   Involving   the   children  means   engaging   the   services   of   an   accredited   Child   Inclusive  Practitioner,   a   professional   specialising   in   child   psychology   and  family   separation.  They  will   spend   time  with  your  child  and   report  back  to  you  and  the  mediator  on  how  your  child   is  coping  with  the  current   situation.   They   will   not   require   your   child   to   make   any  decisions,   or   give   an   opinion,   on   what   arrangements   should   be  made.  

WHAT  IS  THE  PROCESS?  

Initial  contact:  your  first  contact  will  be  to  speak  with  the  mediator  to  talk  about  the  service,  discuss  your  situation,  clarify  concerns  and  make   an   appointment   for   your   Intake   Assessment.   Prior   to   your  Intake  Assessment  you  will  be  sent  some  forms  to  complete  which  will  assist  your  mediator  to  prepare  for  your  meeting.    Intake  Assessment:  Your  mediator  will  take  time  to  fully  understand  your   relationship,  family  and   the   issues  you   face.  They  will   explain  the   options   open   to   you   to   resolve   the   situation   and   provide   you  with   further   information  on   the  mediation  process  and  explore   it’s  suitability   in  your  particular  circumstance.   If   your  partner  does  not  wish  to  participate  in  an  Intake  Assessment  your  mediator  will  issue  you   a   section   60I   certificate.   Intake   Assessments   are   an   hour   in  duration.    Intake  Assessment  for  your  former  partner:  Your  former  partner  will  undertake  the  same  assessment  process.  At  the  conclusion  of  both  meetings  the  mediator  will  make  an  assessment  as  to  whether,  and  in  what  format,  the  mediation  will  proceed.      If  the  mediator  can  facilitate  a  mediation  both  parties  will  be  sent  a  comprehensive   information   statement   as   required   by   the  legislation.  If  your  former  partner  does  not  wish  to  attend  mediation  a  section  60I  certificate  will  be  issued.    Mediation:   At   the   first   mediation   your   mediator   will   begin   by  explaining   the   rules   and   process   of  mediation.   Your  mediator   will  then  assist  you   to  set  an  agenda  of   issues  to  be  resolved,  help  you  explore   options   for   settlement,   encourage   communication   and  realistic  problem  solving  and  produce  a  parenting  plan  or   financial  settlement,  if  required.    Mediation   sessions   are   usually   3   hours   in   duration.   Depending   on  the   complexity   of   your   situation   you   may   require   more   sessions.  Most  meditations  are  resolved  in  one  or  two  sessions.    

ARE  THINGS  SAID  AT  FDR  CONFIDENTIAL?  

Everything  you  say   in   front  of  an  FDR  practitioner   is   confidential  –  except   in   certain   circumstances,   such   as   to   prevent   a   threat   to  someone's  life  or  health  or  the  commission  of  a  crime.    What   is   said   during   FDR   cannot   be   used   as   evidence   in   court.  However,  an   FDR  practitioner  must   report   child   abuse  or   anything  that   indicates   a   child   is   at   risk   of   abuse,   and   this   may   be   used   as  evidence  in  some  circumstances.    

 

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   WHAT  IF  I  DON’T  FEEL  SAFE  NEAR  MY  FORMER  PARTNER?  

Although   mediation   works   best   when   parties   can   communicate  directly  and  begin  to  formulate  agreements  in  a  respectful  manner,  there  are  some  circumstances  where  it  may  be  beneficial  to  conduct  the  mediation  separately.    In   situations   of   family   violence,   excessive   conflict   or   emotional  angst   the  mediator  may   decide   to  conduct   a   shuttle  mediation.   In  this   process   the   parties   are   in   separate   rooms   and   the   mediator  moves   between   the   two,   sharing   information   and   attempting   to  reach  agreement.    The   standard   practice   at   this   service   is   to   stagger   the   arrival   and  departure   times   of   all   parties.   This   avoids   uncomfortable   waits   in  the   reception  area,   calmer  departures  and   lessens   the  opportunity  for  conflict  or  violence.    It   is   important   to   inform   the   mediator   if   you   have   any   concerns  regarding  contact  with  your  former  partner.  

IS  THE  MEDIATION  PROCESS  A  ONE-‐OFF  DEAL?  

Ideally  you  and  your  former  partner,  through  the  process,  will  learn  how   to   effectively   co-‐operate   in   parenting   your   children   into   the  future.      Be   aware   though   that   children,   and   life,   are   dynamic   and  arrangements   will   have   to   be   adapted   to   meet   changing   needs.  Returning   to  mediation   to   sort  out  new  arrangements   is  always  an  option,  especially  when  your  own  private  negotiations  have  become  difficult  and  conflictual.      Some  people   access  mediation   services   regularly   in  order   to  make  any  transitions  smooth  and  peaceable.  

HOW  LONG  WILL  THIS  PROCESS  TAKE?  

It   depends   on   the   complexity   of   your   situation.   Mediation   can   be  concluded  in  as  little  as  one  or  two  sessions.  

 

WHAT  WILL  THE  PROCESS  COST  ME?  

You   will   be   billed   at   the   hourly   rate   of   $300   plus   GST   for   intake  assessments  and  mediation  sessions.      The   final   cost   of   the   process   is   variable.   It   comes   down   to   the  complexity  of  your  particular   situation  and  both  parties  willingness  to  engage  fully  in  the  process.    Provision  of  a  s  60I  certificate  costs  $150  +  GST  

WHAT  HAPPENS  WITH  ANY  AGREEMENT  REACHED?  

If  you  reach  agreement  on  arrangements  for  your  children,  this  can  be  recorded  as  a  parenting  plan.  A  parenting  plan  must  be  in  writing,  dated  and  signed  by  both  parents.  Your  agreement  or  parenting  plan  can   include   mechanisms   to   change   arrangements   and   resolve  disagreements.   Parenting   plans   can   be   renegotiated   over   time,   if  necessary.  Parenting  plans  are  not  legally  enforceable.    If  you  want  to  make  your  final  parenting  plan  or  financial  agreement  legally  binding,  you  can  apply  to   the  court  to  have  your  agreement  made  into  a  consent  order.  You  can  do  this  yourself  or  ask  a   lawyer  to  do  it  for  you.    

WHAT  IF  THE  PROCESS  DOESN’T  WORK?  

Even   if   you   can't   reach   agreement,   mediation   may   help   you   and  your   former   spouse   or   partner   communicate   better.   If   you   try  mediation  but  still  need  to  go  to  court  for  a  parenting  order,  you  will  need  a  certificate  from  an  accredited  FDR  practitioner.    

FURTHER  INFORMATION  

For  further  queries,  please  do  not  hesitate  to  contact  Elisa  on    0406  362  629.