Relationships Australia mediation services use accredited mediators and family dispute resolution practitioners, who have a range of backgrounds including counselling, psychology, social work, family therapy, law and management.
When can mediation be used?
- family law matters including parenting arrangements and/or financial property settlement
- relationship issues between family members
- community disputes including neighbourhood
- workplace difficulties between staff and management
- family business matters including succession planning.
What are the benefits of using mediation?
Mediation takes place in an environment of cooperation. The benefits of mediation will differ for each individual, however, the key advantages are that it provides people with
- solutions they have been part of creating
- answers through facilitated discussion
- opportunity to listen to each other without blame and competition
- sessions at mutually convenient times
- a service which is private and confidential
- opportunity to present their own views in their own words
What happens in mediation?
- Contact the Relationships Australia office on (08) 9489 6313 to obtain more general information and arrange appointment times.
- Meet with a mediator separately. At this appointment the mediator will explain the process and assess how best to proceed with mediation.
- Meet with a mediator collectively. During the mediation session the mediator will assist the parties to explore the issues in dispute; develop options and negotiate possible outcomes; work out priorities; find common ground.
- Summarise the agreements verbally or in writing and discuss appropriate next steps.
Part of that discussion may be about whether the agreement be
- kept between the parties
- taken to a solicitor for transference to court forms
- transferred to court forms and lodged with the appropriate court.