Your interest, the children's interest, and our interest is to reach agreement about post separation parenting matters...THEN...the financial matters are negotiated.

Preliminary Conference - Initiating Party

A Preliminary Conference is conducted with the initiating party to establish suitability for family dispute resolution, to gain an understanding of what the initiating party is hoping/expecting and to effectively prepare the initiating party for mediation. This includes reality testing their expectations.

NOTE: If there is a Violence Order in place, this MUST be emailed to Enavant, prior to engaging in any sessions with your Practitioner.

Preliminary Conference - Responding Party

The responding party is contacted by the FDRP 'inviting' them to participate in the family dispute resolution. Contact is promptly after the Initiating Party has had their Preliminary Conference. The Responding Party is asked to respond with their intention within seven days, and to make an appointment for their Preliminary Conference. They then participate in the same process - however each session is confidential. 

Joint session with Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner

After a thorough assessment and effective preparation of both parties, the joint session is arranged with three hours allocated. The mediation is conducted with each party given time to express their concerns, ask questions, put their proposal forward to reach agreement, and for an agreement to be documented.

Rather than making recommendations or imposing a decision, the FDRP (mediator) encourages parties to reach their own voluntary solution by exploring each other's interests.

If an Agreement is not Reached...

The majority of meditations reach agreement as our emphasis is placed on effectively preparing each party, including encouragement to seek legal advice.

However, if agreement is not reached, parties may choose to attend another, shorter joint session if they believe they will reach agreement OR, a s.601 Certificate is provided by the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, and parties need to seek guidance from their legal practitioner about the next steps.

Financial Matters

If financial matters are to be mediated, a two-hour joint mediation session is conducted within a short time frame AFTER children's matters have been agreed. It is a requirement that parties undertake to have sourced all the necessary information to reach agreement about their financial matters. If lawyers are present for the financial component - they are expected to document the financial agreement.