Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum provides you with a flexible, affordable, confidential and impartial service to best meet your individual needs and circumstances.
Pre-Separation Mediation can be useful both for those who are actively working to save their marriage or relationship, and for those who have decided to separate.
Pre-Separation Mediation at Qantum is not marital or relationship counselling. Rather, it is a mediation process that enables you to determine what must happen to save your relationship, or to create a mutual agreement on how the separation will unfold in a dignified and respectful manner.
Pre-Separation Mediation enables individuals to take control of their lives. It provides a forum to develop clear and mutual guidelines that each party understands. It answers the question ‘Where to from here?’ and helps to determine what is expected, what is acceptable, and what is unacceptable. It is a process that enables you to make informed decisions about your relationship with no nasty surprises.
If you would like to learn more about Pre-Separation Mediation at Qantum, complete our Qantum form and we will contact you for a discussion.
What is Family Dispute Resolution?
The Family Law Act 1975 refers to services such as Family Law Mediation as Family Dispute Resolution. Family Dispute Resolution may assist people experiencing separation or divorce who are unable to agree on issues relating to their children, property and or finances.
Before asking the court to hear an application relating to parenting issues you must attempt Family Dispute Resolution and obtain a Section 60I Family Law Act 1975 Certificate from an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, confirming that you have participated in Family Dispute Resolution or attempted to participate. These certificates are commonly referred to as S60I Certificates and can only be issued by accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners.
The court will only hear applications for Parenting Orders if a certificate from an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner is obtained and filed with the court application. However, Family Dispute Resolution is not mandatory in cases involving child abuse, family violence or urgent cases.
Family Dispute Resolution offers an impartial third party to assist you in reaching an agreement. The aim of Family Dispute Resolution is to assist separating couples to isolate issues and develop and negotiate fair solutions. To amicably reach an agreement without going to court.
Agreements reached at Family Dispute Resolution may be documented as a Parenting Plan or Financial Agreement. If you wish you can ask the court to make your agreement legally binding by making the agreement into a Consent Order.
Family Dispute Resolution can be a quicker, less expensive and less stressful method of reaching an agreement rather than taking legal action through a court.
In circumstances where Family Dispute Resolution is not appropriate a Section 60I Certificate may be issued to enable court intervention as required.
Should a party refuse to attend Family Dispute Resolution or not make a genuine effort to resolve the issue(s) in dispute, an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner may issue a Section 60I Certificate to that effect. Section 60I Certificates may be taken into account by a court when deciding who should pay court costs and whether to order people to attend Family Dispute Resolution.
Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum Mediation Group
Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum provides you with a flexible, affordable, confidential and impartial service to best meet your individual needs and circumstances.
The accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners at Qantum follow a three-step process.
1. Assessment of Mediation Suitability
Each party is comprehensively interviewed to ensure that Family Dispute Resolution is appropriate. This may involve the analysis of supporting documentation such as Family Violence Intervention Orders.
2. Mediation Preparation
Parties meet individually to develop an agenda of issues to be discussed at Mediation.
3. Mediation Sessions
Your sessions will take place with the same experienced, registered and accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner who conducted your initial assessment and Mediation Preparation. This ensures continuity of service for you and eliminates any unnecessary stress.
Qantum can assist you in the following areas:
– Family Separation;
– Parenting Agreements/ Parenting Plans;
– Child Support Disputes;
– Property Settlements;
– Financial Agreements;
– Legally Assisted Negotiations; and
– Issuing Certificates under Section 60I Family Law Act 1975.
No matter where you are in your separation journey, we can assist you, including:
– Couples in High Conflict;
– Separated Married Couples;
– Separated Defacto Couples;
– Separated Same-Sex Couples;
– Parent and Grandparent Disputes;
– Cases Involving Children’s Issues;
– Cases Involving Property Issues; and
– Cases Involving Financial Issues.
Family Dispute Resolution may also incorporate optional Child Inclusive Mediation and or Shuttle Mediation. In matters involving children, a strong emphasis is placed on assisting parents to uphold their children’s best interests.
Family Dispute Resolution Shuttle
Shuttle Mediation is a form of mediation where the parties remain apart and the mediator moves between them. Shuttle Mediation may take place as agreed between the parties.
If you would like to learn more about Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum, simply complete our Qantum Form and we will contact you for a discussion on how we can assist you.
Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum meets all the requirements of the Family Law Act 1975, satisfies the standards in the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008 and is fully accredited by the Commonwealth Attorney-General to issue Section 60I Certificates.
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Process at Qantum Mediation Group
This is a simple general diagram of the FDR process and as such may vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Family Dispute Resolution at Qantum meets all the requirements of the Family Law Act 1975, satisfies the standards in the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008 and is fully accredited by the Commonwealth Attorney-General to issue Section 60I Certificates.
Mediation Preparation involves meeting with each party individually prior to your session. This allows us to develop an agenda of issues so that all parties are aware of what will be discussed.
Mediation Preparation is also useful for:
– Enabling all parties to make informed decisions before mediation.
– Providing all parties with the opportunity to consider their rights and obligations.
– Allowing all parties to consider each topic and obtain legal advice, if necessary.
– Minimising wasted time during your mediation session, as no time is spent determining what the parties have come to discuss.
Please note:
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners/Family Law Mediators do not provide legal advice. It is strongly recommended that individuals obtain legal advice before finalising financial agreements.
Child Inclusive Mediation at Qantum provides your child or teenager with the opportunity to participate in the mediation process in an age-appropriate manner.
It uplifts the voices of children and teenagers, assists parents in upholding their children’s best interests, and allows you to hear and consider your children’s experiences, wishes and needs, and plan cooperatively for their life after parental separation.
Children can participate in Child Inclusive Mediation from the age of four by meeting with a qualified child consultant. This consultant will gain an understanding of the child’s experiences and wishes through age-appropriate interaction. Children and teenagers are not forced to participate in the process, and with their permission, the consultant can provide you and the mediator with feedback as to their position and their needs.
The decision to enter into Child Inclusive Mediation may be made before mediation or during the mediation process if it becomes beneficial. For example, involving children may make their experiences, wishes and needs clearer, helping you resolve child-related disputes and work towards their best interests.
You may find the video below helpful when explaining divorce to your young child.
The Children’s Helpline Phone Counselling Service may be a useful tool for your older child, teenager or young adult. Catering for children between 5 and 25, the helpline offers confidential discussions with professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialling the number or visiting the website below.
1800 55 1800
kidshelpline.com.au
If you would like to learn more about Child Inclusive Mediation at Qantum, complete our Qantum Form and we will contact you for a discussion.
It is common for problems to arise when something new is being implemented.
At Qantum, we want you to successfully implement your Parenting Plan or Court Order and acknowledge that sometimes, implementing new parenting arrangements can be challenging.
Co-Parenting Mediation is designed to assist with the initial issues which often arise when implementing a Parenting Plan or Court Order.
We are here to support you, to assist you in effectively communicating as co-parents, and to iron out any teething issues your new parenting arrangements may present.
If you would like to know more about Co-Parenting Mediation at Qantum, complete our Qantum Form and we will contact you for a discussion on how we can assist you.
Healthy relationships, at a minimum, are characterised by respect and equality as human beings.
Relationships that become unhealthy are often characterised by disrespect and control; this must be acknowledged and help must be sought before this escalates further.
At Qantum, our Healthy Relationships and Positive Behaviour Change® workshop is designed to assist you in understanding what constitutes Family Violence in the eyes of the law and how to restore your relationship to one of basic respect and equality.
In addition to couples wanting to make positive changes to their relationship, our workshop may assist couples at the pre-separation stage, as the knowledge gained may assist you in repairing or ending the relationship in a respectful and dignified manner. If you choose to end the relationship, or you are making changes to a Parenting Plan or Court Order, our workshop may assist in developing mutual agreements about your ongoing relationship and benchmarking acceptable behaviour as you move forward and co-parent as a separated couple.
If you would like to learn more about the Healthy Relationships and Positive Behaviour Change® workshop at Qantum, complete our Qantum Form and we will contact you for a discussion on how we can assist you.
Coming Soon…
Parenting Coordination is a child-focused process that assists parents who are experiencing high conflict. It is designed to assist parents who are co-parenting as a separated couple and are unable or unwilling to make joint parenting decisions, effectively communicate, comply with Parenting Plans or Court Orders, and protect their children from parental conflict.
Engagement with a Parenting Coordinator is a long term commitment and the aim is to reduce high parental conflict, develop respectful co-parenting relationships, and foster meaningful parent-child relationships.
Parenting Coordination is a form of Case Management. It is not Family Dispute Resolution/Family Law Mediation, and cannot be conducted by your Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
If you would like to register for Parenting Coordination at Qantum, kindly complete our Qantum Form and we will contact you for a discussion on how we can assist.
