About Us

Brisbane Mediations offers insight and assistance in resolving family law matters that only expertise can provide. Our panel comprises experienced dispute resolution practitioners to assist you in resolving your children's and/or property issues.

Members of our panel are registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners (FDRPs) pursuant to the Family Law Act and upon completion of the mediation process are able to provide the necessary s 60I certificate.

For further information in relation to the very extensive experience of our registered practitioners please click on 'Our Mediators' button on the menu.

All intakes and mediation sessions take place at the Brisbane Mediations Resolution Centre located at Level 8, 225 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. Central Station is nearby and parking is also available adjacent to the station. There are numerous coffee shops and restaurants in the area.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Process

As you may be aware, due to requirements under the Family Law Act, alternative dispute resolution is generally required before court proceedings can commence. Our practitioners are engaged to assist the parties in resolving their matter in accordance with the Family Law Act.

Legal Practitioners are of course more than welcome to attend any part of the Dispute Resolution process, including intakes.

Brochures will be provided to assist you in understanding the alternative dispute resolution process.

Pre-Mediation

Prior to a mediation with us parties are required to sign a Mediation Agreement. Should you decide to use Brisbane Mediations then we shall forward a copy of the mediation agreement to you for execution. To view a copy of the agreement please click on the 'Downloads' button on the menu.

Intake Sessions

Before a mediation takes place the FDRP engaged shall meet and talk with each party separately in order to:

- Introduce themselves to the parties;

- Explain aspects of the process including parenting plans and how the mediation is to proceed.

- Assess whether mediation is an appropriate process for the parties;

- Inform the parties of the confidentiality and other requirements of the process; and

- Identify the issues likely to be discussed in the mediation.

Wherever practicable we conduct intake sessions on a date prior to the actual mediation. This enables the FDRP to allocate adequate time for the intake and avoids the 'pressure cooker' effect where the parties (who may be apprehensive about the mediation) undertakes both the pre-mediation/screening process and the actual mediation on the same day. This allows the parties to properly process all the matters discussed at the pre-mediation session and to satisfy themselves in regards to any queries that may arise, prior to embarking on the actual mediation.

There may nonetheless be instances where it is unavoidable that the intake occurs on the same day as the mediation.

Mediation

Mediation sessions are arranged to suit the parties. They occur at the Brisbane Mediation Resolution Centre. The format of mediation sessions depend on the parties involved. Discussions can take place either in the same room or with each party in a separate room with the mediator moving between the two (this is referred to as a shuttle).

Non-attendance by a party at the mediation

Provided we have reason to believe a party has received our correspondence, if we either do not hear anything or they indicate they have no intention of mediating the issues at hand, the FDRP engaged can, on certain pre-conditions being met, issue a section 60I certificate which will allow the other party to instigate court proceedings in relation to children issues. To prepare and issue the certificate will incur a flat fee of $170.

Under such circumstances, if one party indicates that they wish to mediate the issues through another service whilst the other party wants to use Brisbane Mediations, we will notify the latter party and await their advice.

Post Mediation

Upon completion of a mediation the FDRPs can issue a section 60I certificate at the request of one or both of the parties.

Co-Mediations

We encourage parties to consider co-mediations where parties have the benefit of two mediators, usually a lawyer and social scientist and a male and a female. There are numerous benefits which flow from co-mediation and from our experience the additional charge is most cost effective.

Our Costs

Our fees for conducting the alternative dispute resolution process are $350 per hour plus GST or $500 per hour plus GST for co-mediations (for a minimum of four (4) hours including one hour for reading and preparation).

Intake sessions will also be charged at the rate of $350 per hour plus GST or $500 per hour plus GST for co-mediation.

Unless otherwise agreed between the parties, each party is to pay one half of the total costs, with payment due 2 business days prior to the mediation. If the time of the session (including preparation and reading) exceeds four (4) hours then the additional time will be payable on the day of the mediation.