Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is the legal term for mediation and is usually between couples going through separation or divorce. It enables both parties to sort out the issues such as:

• Parenting arrangements
• Issues with child behaviour or development
• Division of property or assets within the relationship
• Options and next steps

Family dispute resolution saves time and the cost of going through court proceedings. In fact, the Family Law Act 1975 Cth, requires that before parents or other parties in dispute can lodge an application about arrangements for children, they must first make a genuine effort to resolve the dispute through family dispute resolution. This includes other parties in children’s lives such as grandparents, guardians or other family members etc.

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners must be accredited and registered with the Federal Attorney General’s Department—so not every nationally accredited mediator can mediate family disputes or separations.

Family dispute resolution:

• Is voluntary. No one can be made to use family dispute resolution if they don’t want to and it can only work if all parties are willing and able to negotiate freely;
• Is neutral and impartial. The practitioners assist the parties to negotiate but do not take sides. Family dispute resolution practitioners do not make decisions in relation to the matters in dispute. They help facilitate discussions and assist parents and others by coming up with child friendly and focused outcomes. The mediator comes from the view point of the child or children so they can have a voice in the midst of two disputing parties;
• Is designed to empower the parties to make decisions and relies on direct communication. People work at their own pace, exploring options and are encouraged to consider first and foremost the needs of the children and then each other. Whereas court dis-empowers parental decision-making and ultimately gives a judge the power to make decisions on the parents behalf;
• Agreements reached can be as comprehensive or as a brief as the parties’ desire;
• Agreements made are not legally binding, however steps can be taken to make them so, and often this is highly recommended;