How we can help
You can now access a wide range of counselling and mediation services via phone or videochat platforms from anywhere in Australia. You’ll talk to the same counsellor or mediator each time and get to choose appointment times that work for you from your preferred location. We only engage experienced professionals to provide our suite of services…
Melinda Bailey
Individual & Relationship Counsellor / Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner / EAP & Manager Assist
At Melinda
Lead practitioner, Melinda, has 30+ years counselling experience working with people from a broad demographic across a wide range of life issues. She credits her success as a counsellor and mediator, to a wealth of personal and professional life experiences.
Melinda has worked for government and non-government community welfare organisations in various roles including Probation Officer, Correctional Counsellor and Family & Relationship Counsellor. Once, when things got too stressful at work, Melinda took time out of her career and laboured on a banana farm in Far North Queensland. She just needed to ‘clear her head’ – problem was, it took place in the middle of a very tropical northern summer, so she jokingly refers to it as her ‘Extreme Stress Management Strategy!’
As a young mother of four sons in the 80s, divorce threw Melinda into the unenviable world of single-parenthood. “It was without a doubt the hardest, most relentless yet rewarding time of my life – the only thing that equalled it was saying goodbye to each of them as they set off into the adult world.”
Perhaps because of her life experiences Melinda credits herself with an abundance of empathy and boasts of being ‘bullet-proof’. “People share the most intimate details with me – and that’s okay. We’re social creatures, we all need someone to bounce feelings and thoughts off from time to time …”
With tertiary qualifications in Counselling and Interpersonal Communication Skills, Melinda felt it was time to add to her professional toolbox by becoming a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (aka Family Law Mediator). Her aim is to help separated families develop parenting and property agreements that ultimately give their child/ren a childhood they don’t need to recover from. Melinda is a member of the Resolution Institute.
Alex Blake
Owner / Parenting & Property Mediator / Workplace Mediator / EAP
About Alex
Alex is our ‘fix it man’. He’ll help you negotiate a way of settling your dispute, whether it’s with an ex-partner, work colleague, business partner, family member or neighbour. Alex understands the impact conflict can have on individuals and relationships, but he also knows most people don’t like being in conflict…so something has to give. Amidst all the emotional turmoil and angst, Alex is the ‘Voice of Reason’…always ready with that much-needed reality check. He has a way of inviting disputants to consider new possibilities, and of helping them find that middle ground they can each move forward on.
Alex is a proud co-founder of Northern Frontiers Mediation & Counselling Services. He’s also our Client Manager, Workplace Mediator and Family Law Property Mediator. Alex holds a Bachelor of Business (with 1st Class Honours in Applied Economics & Resources Management) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution. Before entering the mediation and counselling field, Alex held senior sales and marketing positions in the tourism industry and travelled throughout the Asia-Pacific region working with people from many different cultural backgrounds. Alex is a member of the Mediation Institute.
Karen McArthur
Business Manager / Graphic Designer
About Karen
Karen supports Northern Frontiers with graphic design, marketing and administration services.
With a background in tourism, office management, administration and graphic design & marketing, Karen’s wide ranging experience puts her in good stead to tackle challenges and adapt to new skills.
Much of her career has been hospitality focused with employment in management roles for over 12 years with All Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Western Australia (acquired by Accor Hotels).
Properties with which she was involved include Cable Beach Club Broome, West Beach Lagoon, Sorrento Beach Resort & Observation Rise Apartment Hotel.
After leaving All Seasons, Karen pursued a career in graphic design & marketing and has run her own business since 1999. She also owns and manages a resort style, short term accommodation property located on the city fringe and provides assistance to small businesses with initial setup and ongoing support.
A combination of diverse skills has complemented job roles such as office manager and personal assistant within the building and property development fields; general manager, payroll and HR coordinator, administration & marketing manager and graphic designer within the hospitality industry.
Got a question or three?
Contact our Reception and confidentially discuss your situation today. Call 1300 90 81 70, send a detailed text message to client mobile 0419 531 269, email reception@northernfrontiers.com.au or use the online chat feature at the bottom right of this webpage to speak with someone now. Don't worry, there is no obligation to make a booking, and we are happy to answer any questions you have if you are just researching different providers.
Phone
+1300 90 81 70
Mobile: 0419 531 269 (text or call)
LiveChat: If you have any questions about our services and don't have time to ring or email, feel free to use the online chat function (bottom right of this page).
Reception Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 7.30 am – 8.00 pm. Last-minute sessions available for urgent matters. Text message 0419 531 269 for the fastest response.