Separation is one of the hardest things a family can go through, especially when children are involved. If you’re in Perth and looking for a calmer, fairer way to work through parenting, property or financial decisions without the stress of a courtroom family dispute resolution (mediation) can help you get there.
What Is Family Dispute Resolution?
Family dispute resolution, also known as mediation, is a structured process that helps separating couples or families work through the big decisions: who the children live with, how time is shared, how finances and property are divided, and how you’ll communicate going forward. A neutral, trained practitioner guides both parties through these conversations, always keeping the wellbeing of any children at the centre of the discussion. It’s confidential, with only limited legal exceptions, and it’s designed to reduce conflict rather than escalate it.
Why It’s Required (and When It’s Not)
Under the Family Law Act, most parents are required to attempt family dispute resolution before applying to the Family Court for parenting orders. This isn’t just a legal formality — it reflects a broader shift in Australia’s family law system towards resolving disputes collaboratively wherever it’s safe to do so. That said, mediation isn’t the right fit for every situation. Where there are genuine safety concerns, such as family violence, the requirement can be waived, and a good practitioner will always prioritise safety first, referring you to other appropriate supports if needed.
What It Can Help You Decide
Family dispute resolution can support you and your former partner (or other family members, such as grandparents) to reach agreements on:
- Parenting arrangements, including where children live, time with each parent, and holidays
- Financial support for children
- Division of property and other assets
- Ongoing communication and co-parenting after separation
Why Families Choose It Over Court
Court proceedings can be slow, expensive and adversarial. Mediation offers a different path: it’s generally less stressful, because there’s no pressure of formal legal proceedings hanging over every conversation. It’s empowering, because you and your former partner make the decisions together, rather than having an outcome imposed on you. It’s flexible, so the plan you land on can actually reflect your family’s specific needs rather than a one-size-fits-all order. And it’s usually far more cost-effective, with many services offered free or at low cost compared to the ongoing expense of litigation.
Who Can Access It
Family dispute resolution in Perth is open to a wide range of people, not just married couples. It’s available to de facto and same-sex couples, parents, grandparents or other family members involved in caregiving, and anyone who simply needs support to communicate and plan after a separation whether or not children are involved.
How the Process Works
While the exact steps can vary slightly between services, family dispute resolution generally follows a similar pattern. It starts with an initial phone appointment to understand your situation and needs. If children are involved, you’ll usually attend a general information session before anything else. From there, you’ll have a confidential individual meeting with a practitioner to check that mediation is appropriate for your circumstances. If it is, you’ll move into joint sessions — either together in the same room, or through “shuttle mediation,” where the practitioner moves between separate rooms if that feels safer or more comfortable. If you reach an agreement, it can be written up (though it isn’t automatically legally binding), and you may be referred for independent legal advice to formalise it. If mediation isn’t suitable for your situation, the practitioner will connect you with other appropriate support services instead.
Conclusion
Choosing the right support during separation can have a lasting impact on your family’s future. With the right guidance, you can work through parenting, property and financial decisions with more clarity, less conflict, and a plan that puts your children first.
We focus on providing personalised, confidential support so families can navigate separation with confidence and work towards agreements that work for everyone involved.
📞 Let’s Stay Connected Looking for guidance or personalised family support?
📧 info@disabilityserviceswa.com.au
📞 08 6119 9696
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FAQ’s
1. Is family dispute resolution the same as mediation?
Yes the terms are used interchangeably in Australian family law.
2. Do I have to attend before going to court?
In most parenting matters, yes, unless there are safety concerns or another exemption applies.
3. What if my ex and I can’t be in the same room?
That’s fine many Perth practitioners offer “shuttle mediation,” meeting with each of you separately.
4. Is it legally binding?
Not automatically. Agreements are usually written up informally, and you can seek legal advice to formalise them if needed.
5. How much does it cost?
Family Relationship Centres often offer free or low-cost sessions; private practitioners in Perth charge a fee.
6. What if mediation isn’t right for us?
Your practitioner will refer you to other supports, including legal or family violence services.