Ask a Mediator
Got a question about mediation, family dispute resolution or conflict in your life? Send it through – we’ll get back to you.
What is “Ask a Mediator”?
Ask a Mediator is a free question service. If you’re facing a dispute, separation, family law issue, neighbour or workplace conflict and you’d like a mediator’s view on what your options are, send us your question. One of our accredited mediators will get back to you with general information about how mediation could help and what next steps might look like.
This is general information, not legal advice. We’re happy to point you to the right kind of help for your situation – whether that’s our service, another mediation provider, a community legal centre, or somewhere else.
What you can ask about
- Family Dispute Resolution – how FDR works, Section 60i Certificates, parenting plans, property settlement mediation, what to expect in pre-mediation.
- Community and neighbour disputes – fences, noise, parking, shared spaces, ongoing tension with a neighbour or a club committee.
- Workplace and association conflict – tension on a board, committee or workplace team that you’d like to resolve without escalating.
- Relationship mediation – adult relationships you’d like to keep working: friends, siblings, business partners, extended family.
- Preparing for mediation – how to get ready, what to bring, what to expect, what kinds of agreements you can reach.
- Whether mediation is the right fit – if you’re not sure mediation is appropriate for your situation, we’ll tell you honestly and suggest alternatives.
How it works
- Fill out the form below with your question. The more context you give us, the more useful our reply can be.
- One of our accredited mediators reviews your question and writes back to you, usually within a few business days.
- If your situation looks like a good fit for mediation, we’ll explain how to take the next step. If it doesn’t, we’ll point you somewhere else.
Ask your question
Use the form below. Your details are confidential and we won’t share them.
What we can’t help with
- Legal advice. Mediators can’t tell you what the law says about your situation, your rights, or what a court would decide. For that you need a lawyer. Community legal centres can be a starting point if cost is an issue.
- Urgent safety issues. If you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please contact emergency services (000) or a relevant support service. 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is the national family violence and sexual assault counselling line.
- Crisis or mental health support. Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are there 24/7 if you need to talk to someone.
- Decisions on someone else’s behalf. We can’t tell you what someone else should do – only what your options look like.
Ready to take the next step?
If you already know mediation is right for you, you don’t need to use this form – you can go straight to the service that fits.