Frequently Asked Questions
Appointments can be made Monday to Saturday. Hours are usually 10:00AM until 4:00PM starting times. Under special circumstances, other times may be negotiated.
The initial intake appointment is usually 60 minutes. Mediation sessions can range typically from 2 to 5 hours depending on the number of issues to be resolved and the parties' capacity to negotiate with flexibility.
- Initial intake session $225.50 (GST incl.00) per hour.
- Correspondence to contact other party following first intake session $82.50 (GST incl.)
- Mediation sessions: $225.50 (GST incl.)per hour, per person.
- Mediation sessions of 4 to 6 persons, $123.20 per person per hour.
- Telephone calls and email correspondence: $55.00 (GST incl.) for each 15 minute interval. Under 15 minutes incurs no cost.
- Issue of Section 60I Certificate: $121.00 (GST incl.) per certificate.
The number of sessions will depend on time availability of both the parties and the mediator. It will also depend on whether financial agreements as well as parenting plans are to be resolved. Some parties prefer to have longer sessions with less appointments and others prefer to have shorter sessions over a longer period.
A trained and qualified Child Consultant may be of benefit in offering an independent perspective from the child's/children's point of view. Following an interview with the child/children, the consultant attends a mediation session with the parents to present what struggles the child/children may be having and how the parents may collaboratively find solutions to help the child/children.
North Shore Family mediation may suggest a referral to a Child Consultant or you may prefer to make that decision independently. The fee is usually paid jointly by the parents directly to the Child Consultant based on their own fee structure.
For Crows Nest appointments there is two-hour free parking available in the Coles Supermarket car park. Street parking is also available, both metered and unmetered for two hours.
For appointments held in Erina, there is two-hour free parking in the area surrounding Service NSW.
Mediation takes place after the initial intake process with each party and if the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (the mediator) deems the issues and circumstances presented to be suitable for mediation.
A typical mediation sessions starts where each party and the mediator present opening statements. From the party's statements, an agenda is placed on a whiteboard and then prioritized by the parties.
Options are then put forward by the parties towards resolving each agenda item.
Negotiation takes place facilitated by the mediator towards reaching agreement with the child's/children's best interests being of prime consideration.
If agreement is reached, the document is drafted and once signed and dated by both parties it may be taken to one party's lawyer to be converted to Consent Orders and lodged in the Family Court. The Consent Orders are legally binding, the signed agreement drafted by the mediator is not legally binding.
