Relationship Mediation
Re-negotiating the rules in relationships you want to keep — couples, families, and other relationships that matter.
How we can help
Keeping relationships healthy and mutually beneficial is not always easy. There are always unwritten rules and unspoken expectations that can trip people up. Relationship Mediation helps you speak up about what you want and need in a relationship you are trying to save — with the support of two independent professional mediators.
This service is for people who both want the relationship to continue. Saving a relationship is something both people must want to do.
Request a call back — complete our enquiry form
Important: this is not family law mediation
If you and your partner are separating or divorcing and need to sort out parenting arrangements, child support, or property settlement under Australian family law — that is Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), a different service.
For FDR, see our sister service Interact Online Family Dispute Resolution.
Relationship Mediation is for people who want to keep the relationship and work on how it functions.
The kinds of relationships we can help with
Couples
Married, de facto, or romantic relationships where both people want to remain together and need help re-negotiating how the relationship works. If one of you wants to separate, this isn’t the right service — see Interact Online FDR instead.
Adult family relationships
Adult children and their parents, between siblings, between step-family members, and similar adult family relationships. Both people need to be willing to do the work to stabilise the situation and rebuild trust.
Other significant relationships
If the relationship matters to both of you, mediation may help. We work with business partners, colleagues, neighbours who want to maintain a working relationship, long-standing friends, and others.
How relationship mediation works
ICDRS is a co-mediation service — two AMDRAS-accredited mediators work together with you. This gives more skill in the room, more balanced facilitation, and additional support when the conversation is difficult.
The first step is a confidential pre-mediation session with each person, separately. We use that time to make sure mediation is safe and suitable, talk through your concerns, and help you prepare. Based on what we learn, if we all agree mediation is the right approach, one or more joint mediation sessions are scheduled.
Mediation can be online via video meeting, or in person where we have team members available. Online sessions are available Australia-wide.
Read more about the mediation process on our Community Mediation overview page.
Cost
ICDRS is a not-for-profit social enterprise and our fees are means-tested.
- If you are on a low income or experiencing financial hardship, the pre-mediation stage is free — funded by our hardship fund.
- The mediation fee itself is also based on ability to pay. We work hard to keep it affordable.
Make an enquiry or pay for your pre-mediation session.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as Family Dispute Resolution?
No. ICDRS Relationship Mediation is for people who want to keep their relationship and re-negotiate how it works. Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is for separating or divorcing couples sorting out parenting arrangements or property under the Family Law Act. If you and your partner are separating, our sister service Interact Online FDR is the right place.
What if my partner doesn’t want to come to mediation?
Relationship mediation only works if both people want to participate. Contact us anyway — our intake team can talk through your situation, give you information you can share with the other person, and discuss what to do if they decline. If the relationship can’t be saved, we can refer you to other appropriate services.
Is mediation confidential?
Mediation is confidential, with limited exceptions. What is said during the sessions stays private and in most cases cannot be used as evidence in court or a tribunal. The two exceptions are a duty of care if we become concerned that someone is at risk of serious harm, or a court order to share information (though courts usually do not allow material from mediation to be used as evidence). Your mediators will explain how confidentiality applies in your situation during pre-mediation.
Can you help if there has been violence or abuse?
Our intake team will work with each person separately during pre-mediation to assess whether mediation is safe and appropriate. If there are concerns about violence, coercion, or significant power imbalance, mediation may not be suitable and we will help you identify other support services. Safety always comes first.
Get in touch
Not sure whether relationship mediation is right for your situation? Contact us and one of our team can talk you through the process and answer your questions.
Phone: 1300 079 345
Email: office@interact.support
Enquiry form: complete our online form