Northern Frontiers Parenting Mediation & Property Mediation Brisbane offers fully accredited Family Law Mediators (aka Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) to assist separated families resolve parenting and/or property disputes. Parties are encouraged to work through their differences and find that middle ground they can each move forward with. Our Parenting & Property Mediation services are available Australia-wide via phone and video platforms, making it easy to avoid the distress of mediating face-to-face with your ex-partner in the same room. Mediate from the comfort of your own home, office, shed or wherever you are. Spare yourself and your family the distress and expense of a drawn-out court process. Book your Intake & Assessment session now and get things sorted…
Do I have to mediate?
When family disputes arise around parenting and/or property matters, and parties fail to reach agreement themselves, the Australian Family Law Act 1975 requires parties to seek resolution with the assistance of a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (aka Mediator) prior to seeking court action. There is an expectation that parties mediate in good faith and demonstrate a desire to reach agreement. A s60I certificate may be issued if someone refuses to attend mediation, does not demonstrate a genuine effort to resolve the dispute or when agreement is not reached.
What if my ex-partner refuses to mediate?
A s60I certificate may be issued if one party, for whatever reason, does not agree to mediate. You will need the certificate as evidence of your attempt to reach resolution through mediation before asking a court to decide on your parenting matter. Northern Frontiers’ mediators are accredited to issue these certificates if/when deemed appropriate – and S60I certificates may be issued within 24 hours of initial assessment when deemed appropriate.
How do I mediate?
Our team at Northern Frontiers Mediation Brisbane will step you through each required step of the process. Essentially, both parties are required to complete an individual Intake & Assessment phone session. Once one party has completed this, and it is deemed by the Mediator as appropriate to continue, we will contact and invite the other party to the process. They will normally have one (1) week in which to advise if they will, or will not, be mediating. Once both individual Intake sessions are completed we can then schedule, a joint Parenting and/or Property mediation process.
What is the point of mediation?
The desired result of mediation is either a Record of Parenting Agreement and/or a Record of Property Agreement. Mediators are required to prepare this document at the end of a mediation process, and contains agreements reached, not what was discussed during the Agreements may be forwarded to your legal adviser (if you have one) who can assist with formalising your agreement.
How can Northern Frontiers Mediation help me?
We offer a private, confidential parenting and property mediation service that is fully accredited by the Federal Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra (which means we can issue s60I certificates, as appropriate). Please see below for our Parenting and Property Mediation brochures outlining process, fees, Frequently Asked Questions and additional information.
Click here for Parenting Mediation brochure, including pricing
Click here for Property Mediation brochure, including pricing
Parenting & Property Mediation Brisbane: FREE 15 Minute Consultation
For all enquiries call 1300 90 81 70, text 0419 531 269, email reception@northernfrontiers.com.au. Or use the LiveChat feature at the bottom right of this webpage.
Is mediation expensive?
Reaching agreement through mediation offers significant financial savings because it spares you from a long drawn out expensive legal process. Northern Frontiers Mediation Brisbane can complete an entire mediation process in 2 – 3 weeks provided both parties make their time available.
Typically, family law lawyers charge between $400 – $700 per hour, and one lawyer cannot represent both parties. The more agreement you reach through mediation, the more time and money you save. For a full breakdown of our mediation costs click here for our Parenting Mediation and Property Mediation brochures.
What if I’ve been asked to look at my anger problem?
For matters involving anger-related behavioural issues, click here for our Anger Management Program, also available Australia-wide from the comfort of your own home, office, workplace, or wherever you prefer. Don’t delay making positive behavioural changes today! We also offer a Youth & Teenager Anger Management Program.
Why choose Northern Frontiers Mediation?
- We get things moving quickly! First step is your Intake & Assessment session with the Mediator – typically no longer that 2-3 business days following your initial contact with us. Government subsidised mediation providers frequently have waitlists extending 3-5 months.
- Both parenting and property matters can be included in a mediation process, saving time and money.
- There is no requirement to mediate face-to-face with your ex-partner. The entire mediation process may be completed via phone or videochat, and you don’t even need to have direct voice contact if you prefer (the Mediator switches between the parties).
- Our mediators (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners – FDRPs) are fully accredited through the Attorney General’s Department in Canberra and can therefore issue s60I certificates. Family Law lawyers know what these are, as they are required prior to going court.
- We encourage clients to seek legal and financial advice before, during and after mediation however, you are not required to have your lawyer present during mediation, unless you so wish.
What can I mediate about?
Any issues related to parenting and property may be suitable for mediation. Parties are asked to list agenda items, and our experienced mediators will assist in generating parenting and property agreements. Example agenda items include (but are not limited to):
- choice of child’s school,
- extracurricular activities,
- time spent with each parent,
- communication between parents,
- healthcare choices,
- choice of surname,
- parental relocation with or without the child/ren,
- rules around re-partnering,
- cultural issues,
- religious issues, and
- interstate/international travel with the child/ren (including disputes around passport applications).
Does Northern Frontiers Mediation assist with property or financial matters post-separation?
Yes. As a guide, a full Northern Frontiers Property Mediation process includes the following steps:
- review and agree on contributions made by both parties at commencement of the relationship,
- review contributions made by both parties during the relationship (i.e., primary income earners, primary child carers and household keepers etc),
- identify property pool assets and liabilities to be distributed (or finalised), and
- provide a safe, confidential forum in which to discuss the fair and equitable division of assets and liabilities to end your financial relationship.
Once agreement is reached, the Mediator will develop a Record of Property Agreement. This document may be provided to a lawyer who can assist with drafting the required paperwork to formalise your agreement.
Click here for Parenting Mediation brochure, including pricing
Click here for Property Mediation brochure, including pricing
Still have questions? See below, or call 1300 90 81 70 or text message 0419 531 269 now for your free 15 minute consultation.
What is Family Dispute Resolution?
Family law in Australia has undergone a number of changes in recent decades, with the introduction of compulsory mediation for separated families being one of the most notable. Put simply, separated families who cannot reach agreement around a child matter are now legally required to make a genuine effort to resolve their dispute through family law mediation before asking a court to decide things for them (exceptions apply). Of relevance to this requirement is the fact that the overriding principles of family law legislation are now grounded in the rights of the child and the responsibilities of parents and care providers.
Mediation offers a neutral space in which parents and care-providers can discuss parenting and property issues with a view to developing a Parenting Plan or Property Agreement that best meets the changing needs of their family.
Family law mediators (also known as Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) are legally obligated to remain impartial, provide information about family separation and create an environment in which parents and care-providers can speak openly and honestly about their family situation. All that is said in mediation remains confidential and cannot be used as evidence in any court in Australia (exceptions apply).
Mediation basically offers a way for families to remain in control of their family’s future.
Payment information for Family Law Mediation sessions
Unless advised prior it is assumed that both parties pay their own costs of the mediation process at Northern Frontiers Pty Ltd. Pre-payment for any booked sessions is required at least two days prior to a session. If more than 2 (two) business days notice is not given for cancellation, or there is a “No Show”, a 100% charge applies with no credits provided. If you have booked a session as part of the Family Law Mediation process, funds are not refunded for any time that is not used during a joint mediation session, for whatever reason. It is at the discretion of the mediator as to whether a credit is issued. Mediation pricing includes the preparation of a Record of Parenting Agreement when required.
Is the mediation process complicated?
Northern Frontiers Mediation offers a staged mediation process as follows:
Step 1: Intake session between Party A and the mediator. Permission sought to contact the other party and assess their willingness to mediate. If ‘Yes’ we proceed as follows…
Step 2: Intake session between Party B and the mediator.
Step 3: Northern Frontiers Reception provides a number of available mediation session times over the next two weeks and confirms a suitable time with both parties.
Step 4: 1st mediation session facilitated by an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (aka Mediator).
Additional mediation sessions may be required depending on the number of agenda items and progress made in the 1st mediation session.
The Mediator records any agreement made in the form of a Parenting Plan or Property Agreement. Both parties receive a copy of their agreement along with referral to legal advice and/or other services where assessed as appropriate.
IMPORTANT NOTE: s60I certificates
In some circumstances the Mediator may assess your matter as ‘not appropriate for mediation’ and issue a s60I certificate. This may occur at any stage of the mediation process. Because mediators are bound by strict confidentiality you are encouraged to direct any questions you may have about a S60I certificate to a family law lawyer.
Recommended Reading:
Julie Hodge, one of Cairns’ leading family law lawyers, recently published a book called ‘Moving On – What you need to know about Separation and Divorce’ in the hope it may assist people affected by family separation as they move through the family law system. For more information, or to purchase a copy, please click here.
Do I also need a lawyer?
Northern Frontiers Mediation suggests you seek legal advice before, during and after mediation. This is to ensure your parenting or property agreement is founded in current family law principles i.e. ‘in the best interest of the child’ and, in terms of property, ‘fair and equitable’. If you require referral details for a suitably qualified family law lawyer please contact Reception or ask the mediator.
How soon can I get started?
As soon as you like! The longest you might wait for an Intake & Assessment session is normally 2 – 4 business days. This is your first formal step in taking control of your family situation so that all involved can move on. Please note though, we are not able to contact and invite the other party to the Mediation process until one party has completed their Intake session.
Appointment times:
For your convenience Northern Frontiers Mediation Brisbane offers phone and videochat appointments from 7.30am weekdays. Out of hours appointments are available on a case-by-case basis, including weekends. To enquire or book simply call 1300 90 81 70, text message 0419 531 269, email reception@northernfrontiers.com.au or use the online chat feature at the bottom right of this webpage.
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.