Are you or your ex-partner struggling to calmly discuss future plans about:
-
parenting arrangements?
-
financial matters and property settlement?
Is your family law dispute dragging on, making you frustrated and stressed?
Are you concerned about legal fees? Do you want to avoid family court? Are you looking for an alternative to the traditional legal and family court process?
Would you benefit from a personalised mediation service conducted by an experienced, impartial family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP), or family law mediator, who can:
-
guide a cooperative discussion that addresses the important issues
-
be fair, impartial and unbiased
-
draw from their professional experience in mediation, family law and the social sciences
-
collaborate and be optimistic and solution focussed
-
offer legally assisted mediation
-
help you and your ex-partner find a pathway forward
-
provide a professional and convenient FDR service through online conferencing, with a face to face option in Hobart
Book a no obligation, confidential and free discussion to see whether Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) may be appropriate for you today.
The Impact of Family Separation
Whether married or de facto - divorce or break up is challenging.
In fact, family separation can be one of the most stressful periods in a person's life.
When a relationship ends, it is normal to experience uncertainty, disappointment and loss.
Separated couples often need help and support to sort out the finances, property settlement and/or parenting arrangements (formerly custody and access).
Assistance from experienced and qualified practitioners is often essential in order to achieve a mutually agreed lasting settlement of these issues.
What is Family Dispute Resolution?
Family Dispute Resolution (or FDR) is the term used under Australian family law for family law mediation.
Participation in FDR is now mandatory before going to court for parenting disputes, except in certain cases; including where there is urgency, child abuse or family violence.
Mediators who conduct FDR are known as Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners (FDRPs) under family law. They have post graduate qualifications in FDR and are registered with the Attorney-General's Department (Cth) to practice. FDRPs are authorised to issue section 60I certificates, which enable parties to proceed to court for parenting orders.
FDR can be especially helpful as an early intervention after separation - in order to reduce the escalation of conflict.
FDR may avoid a costly and drawn out legal process - and lawyer involvement is optional.
Professional
Prompt
Accessible
Why FDR Private?
FDR Private offers a multidisciplinary and personalised approach to FDR – where experienced mediators are also emotionally aware lawyers trained in the social sciences. FDR is the primary alternative to lawyer negotiations and family court proceedings.
We offer a prompt service - typically offering a first appointment within a week of your enquiry, and a mediation session within a week following both party's first appointment. If both participants are legally represented, we can receive a brief from your lawyers and offer a mediation even sooner.
By keeping our fees moderate we aim to improve people's access to quality FDR. In addition to the usual business hours we are available for appointments on Saturdays and after hours on Thursdays. Our national online mediation service is convenient and safe for parties to attend and they can participate from their own home.
Our mediators have 20+ years of combined legal and mediation experience and are accredited FDRPs and accredited under the national mediation accreditation system (NMAS). Whilst their professional focus is mediation, they utilise training and experience from the social sciences, law and alternative dispute resolution.
FDR Private is independently operated and does not receive government support. Government funded FDR is a low cost option - but long delays are common and low wages make attracting quality staff a challenge for these providers. Most of their mediators have no legal qualifications.
Using a legal practitioner is another option and we encourage clients to obtain independent family law advice, however the cost of using a private family lawyer is financially out of reach for many and others are concerned about engaging in an adversarial process. You have the option to attend FDR with us with a lawyer or without one.
FDR Private offers an alternative to the not for profits and the more formal legal pathway.
We value preserving a relationship after separation where possible and limiting the ill effects of conflict - particularly if there are children involved. FDR Private clients can expect a professional, prompt and affordable high quality service.
Our fixed fees provide certainty and transparency - see our costs under FAQs. FDR Private aims to improve access to just outcomes of family law disputes by providing high quality and affordable FDR. We are a private FDR provider offering a nation wide service to Australians through online or phone mediation.
Call 1800 804 804 to discuss how FDR Private can help you achieve certainty and find relief through FDR.
Principal Mediator
_edited.jpg)
Mark Dickinson
Mark Dickinson has over 25 years experience as a dispute resolution practitioner. He has qualifications and experience in law, alternative dispute resolution and the social sciences. This multidisciplinary approach means he can respect the human, personal factors and understand the legal context.
He has mediated disputes for 1,000+ clients and knows how to facilitate difficult conversations and guide participants to workable solutions. He displays sensitivity and tact in addressing the most conflictual issues.
Mediation has been his primary professional focus since 2011. He has 15 years prior experience as a lawyer and 10+ years as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
He has a degree in Arts and Laws (1995) and a Master of Dispute Resolution (Hons) (2010). Mark became a Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) in 2011 and an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) in 2012. He is a commonwealth government doctoral scholarship recipient researching family dispute resolution.
Mark is the primary carer of two school aged children and enjoys keeping active, going to the theatre and taking his children to the beach in the summer.
The FDR Private process
There are two essential stages to the FDR process: a pre-mediation stage a mediation stage.
01.
Pre-mediation stage
This involves an individual, confidential discussion with you, and your lawyer, if you choose to use one. We gain an understanding of your needs, interests, and some of the background. This helps us to tailor the mediation session to suit your circumstances.
We will clearly outline how the mediation session will be conducted and ensure you feel ready and prepared before proceeding to the mediation stage. We will also review any documents drafted by you or your lawyer during this stage.
The pre-mediation stage typically takes around 60 minutes for each participant. This pre-mediation session will be conducted by a registered FDRP (mediator) who will also conduct the mediation.
02.
Mediation stage
This is where the parties involved in the dispute and the mediator meet to discuss the issues and work towards a mutual agreement. The mediator aims to facilitate a discussion that supports each party to express their views constructively. Although discussing parenting or property settlement with a former partner can be difficult - the mediator will expertly guide the process openly, collaboratively and compassionately.
The FDRP (mediator) will aim to help the parties shift the conflict towards an agreed outcome that is practical and lasting. Mediation sessions may vary in length, with 3 hours being typical. This allows for breaks and individual, private discussions between the mediator and each participant.
Some disputes may benefit from a longer session or more than one session. A recommendation about the length of the mediation will be discussed during the pre-mediation stage.
Both the pre-mediation and mediation stages are conducted by video conference or by phone.
We take your privacy seriously and ensure the process is private and confidential. Subject to limited exceptions, federal and state legislation protect the confidential communications during mediation. Please review our privacy policy here. Where an agreement is reached at mediation we can assist with drafting a written agreement for you.
Free consultation - if you have any questions about FDR Private services, please read our FAQs or call us on 1800 804 804 for a free, no obligation discussion.
Book now - schedule a pre-mediation individual session or a free consultation: call 1800 804 804.
What Clients Say
“I found Mark to be a thoroughly professional and objective mediator. He brings a wealth of practical legal experience to the role which allows him the insight to drill down to the issues quickly and efficiently.”
John Pedder - Pedder Schuh