Family Dispute Resolution Services
Interact Online family law mediation service is available for parenting and property issues.
What is Family Dispute Resolution?
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a style of mediation facilitated by Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners. FDR Practitioners have post-graduate level studies in Family Law Mediation.
Don’t risk working with a mediator who is not qualified, make sure you work with a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner registered with the Australian Attorney Generals Department.
All Interact Online lead mediators are registered FDR practitioners.
Is FDR Compulsory?
FDR is required (parenting) and recommended (property) before going to court unless there is an exemption.
Even if you are concerned about participating speak with us. If we agree that FDR is not appropriate due to safety concerns, we can issue you with a Section 60i Certificate which allows you to start court action. (Parenting)
However we will also discuss ways that the issues that need to be resolved can be negotiated without putting you at physical or psychological risk of harm.
If there is any chance to resolve the issues and reach an agreement out of court it is probably in your best interests, and that of your children to try to do so.
Family court takes on average more than 12 months and in many cases much longer than that to reach a trial date although most matters are either resolved through negotiation or people withdraw due to lack of financial capacity to continue before a trial date is set.
We encourage you to talk with your FDRP about any concerns you have and work with them to develop the best approach for your specific family situation.
What does FDR cost?
We are a social enterprise not-for-profit so we keep costs as affordable as we can. We don’t have any government funding to support our service so if you can afford to pay for our services we ask you to do so.
Our fees are based on $242 per person per hour. Discounts may be available if you are on a low fixed income or experiencing hardship.
Generally we schedule a 90 minute pre-mediation session and mediation sessions are three hours long. Depending on the issues for resolution more than one session may be needed, that will definitely be the case if you want our assistance with a property settlement as well as parenting negotiations.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. We are happy to speak with you to discuss your situation and answer any questions you have about the process. That does not replace the need for a pre-mediation session which is a full risk screen and preparation session.
FAQ Questions
A Parenting Plan is a document that outlines how parents will share responsibilities and make decisions regarding their children after a divorce or separation.
It specifies important details such as where the children will live, when they will spend time with the other parent or family members, financial obligations, and any special considerations specific to the children’s needs.
The goal of a Parenting Plan is to provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap that helps parents navigate their co-parenting responsibilities while also prioritising the best interests of their children.
In Family Dispute Resolution our practitioners can help you to discuss the issues and work towards a well-crafted parenting plan that can help create a stable and nurturing environment for the children, minimise conflict between parents and ensure that both parents have a meaningful and ongoing role in their children’s lives.
A Parenting Plan
It specifies important details such as where the children will live, when they will spend time with the other parent or family members, financial obligations, and any special considerations specific to the children’s needs.
The goal of a Parenting Plan is to provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap that helps parents navigate their co-parenting responsibilities while also prioritising the best interests of their children.
You can download a comprehensive template that may help you with the things to consider for your parenting plan.
Yes. Helping people reach property settlement agreements is one of our specialty areas.
Mediation is an effective way to resolve property settlement disputes. This form of dispute resolution allows the people involved to communicate their interests, share information, and work collaboratively to find a solution that is mutually agreeable.
In property mediation we will help you, in the role of neutral third parties, to identify what is important, understand the legal framework of property settlement, and explore different options for the division of property that is fair and equitable.
Mediation provides a flexible and cost-effective alternative to costly litigation or inefficient lawyer facilitated negotiations.
This is because it is customised to meet the specific needs of the people involved rather than taking a generic approach and can lead to more creative solutions than those imposed by a court.
Moreover, mediation is a confidential process, which allows you to be more open and honest about your concerns and expectations.
Using mediation can be an effective tool for property settlements. It saves time, and money, and can potentially help salvage relationships between the participants, an important consideration if you are going to have ongoing shared care for children.
In Australia divorce is not a complicated process. We have a no-fault divorce ruling which means if one person wants to end the marriage you can get divorced after you have been separated for 12 months.
It is possible to be separated under the one roof if your financial or other reasons mean moving to separate homes is not possible.
It is recommended to finalise your property settlement before you divorce because there is a time limit of 12 months after you divorce to be able to automatically apply for court orders for your property settlement.
After they separate most people use mediation or another process to reach agreement about the care of their children, then sort out their property settlement and then, if they were married, file for divorce.
It is an administrative process which you can do yourself using a Do It Yourself Kit from the court or a lawyer can assist you.
Best interest of the child is a term that has a specfic meaning in Australian Family Law. That meaning changed on the 6th May 2024.
You can find out about the current meaning of best interest of the child on this post
Parental Responsibility is another term that has a special meaning in Australian Family Law.
Parents have parental responsibility for their children unless it is taken away by a court (family, family violence or children’s court) or they voluntarily agree to give up parental responsibility for some or all of the major decisions about their child.