As a barrister I am bound, in acting as a mediator, by the ethics and rules of the Victorian Bar.
My commitment is to always respond immediately (on the same day if possible) to emails or phone messages and to arrange a mediation session if appropriate within a short time frame.

FAMILY DISPUTES

There are a variety of family settings and structures and many sorts of family disputes.  Mediation may be helpful in disputes, not only within traditional family structures but also within blended families, same sex couples (with or without children) and extended families.

Disputes concerning children

After the initial contact my normal practice is to speak at length to both parties by phone prior to the mediation. If the dispute is considered appropriate for mediation, parties will be provided with the relevant written material and a mediation session organised as soon as possible. The aim of most mediation sessions is for the parties to arrive at an agreement to address all contentious issues concerning the care of their children. If an agreement is reached the parties will leave the session with a written signed document called a Parenting Plan which will encompass the agreement.
As an accredited ‘Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner’ I am authorised to issue s60I Certificates. These certificates are normally required prior to the issuing of proceedings in children’s matters (there are a number of exceptions). A s60I certificate will be issued to the parties after the mediation upon request.

Disputes concerning property

Mediation of property disputes usually requires several sessions to identify, understand, value and decide on the division of assets. The parties are encouraged to retain legal representation prior to mediation for advice and after mediation to draft Consent Orders based on the agreement reached.

Comprehensive mediation of all disputes arising from
separation

Some parties may choose to settle all the issues arising from their separation, from care of the children to division of property to financial support and anything else, through the mediation process. In these cases lawyers may be retained as back up only, to advise and to draft Court Orders as required. In these cases the parties can be guided through all the various issues in stages and at a pace suitable to their circumstances. Agreements and Plans can be drafted and signed at each stage.