Currawong House
WKND SESSIONS
Parenting Mediations
Parenting Mediations:
(online and on weekends)
✉️ FAQs— Currawong House
Some frequently asked questions. Please read before scheduling your Intake Session with us..
Are weekend mediations ideal for everyone?
Not always.
While many people appreciate the convenience of our weekend mediation schedule (i.e., our WKND Sessions), sometimes your existing commitments, can make weekends less practical to mediate, such as:
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children's activities;
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parenting arrangements;
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family events;
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travel; or
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shift work.
Effective mediation requires both parties to have the time and focus to participate fully.
If a weekend session will be difficult for either party, it would be ideal to raise the topic with each other — if it is safe to do so, of course — before scheduling your Intake Session with us. In such a case it might would most likely be better to engage a FDRP who mediates during hours that are best suited for both parties.
However, if this issue presents after your Intake Sessions have been completed, then we can discuss alternative arrangements for us (if need be).
How long before we can mediate?
In short: this really depends on both parties' willingness to mediate and then everyone's availabilities (i.e., the parties' and the mediator's).
To provide more detail on this we can look at two (2) different stages where 'time' plays an important factor in the process:
1. After the first party has had their Intake Session
Getting to Mediation will depend on first getting everyone through their Intake Sessions.
So during that period, the biggest time-factor is the 'Invitation stage', which is when the mediator will send two (2) invitations to the other party (which are seven (7) days apart).
2. After both parties have had their Intake Sessions
Once both parties have undertaken their Intake Sessions, getting to Mediation can be as early as the next available slot in our WKND Session schedule (in the most ideal scenario).
But it really depends on everyone's availabilities (i.e., the parties' and the mediator's) to schedule a time that works for everyone.
Explain the process, from first Intake to Mediation?
(a) Initial Intake Session – The initiating party attends an Intake Session with the mediator.
(b) Invitation to Participate – The other party is invited to participate in Mediation and given two (2) opportunities to respond.
(c) Second Intake Session – If the invitation is accepted, then the invited-party attends their own Intake Session.
(d) Suitability Assessment – The mediator assesses whether the matter is suitable for Mediation.
(e) Mediation Session – If appropriate, a Mediation session is scheduled at a mutually suitable time.
(f) If Mediation Does Not Proceed –
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If the invited-party declines or does not respond (to their invitation/s), the Mediation cannot proceed and a s.60I Certificate will be issued to initiating party; or
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If the mediator assesses that the matter is not suitable for Mediation, then s.60I Certificates will be issued to both parties.
How can we get to Mediation sooner?
The 'easiest' way, would be to discuss this with the other party first.
If you’re able to raise idea of Mediation and have the other party willing to engage in the process, then it will bypass the 1–2 week waiting period (during the ‘invitation’ process).
So, this may not work for all cases (due to conflict, safety reasons, or lack of communication), yet, I have found that respectful and open-discussion can be the most effective path towards mediating.
In saying that, even if there is good communication (between you and the other party), raising the topic of 'Mediation' can be a tricky one; but if well-received (by the other party), then it can make the path to Mediation much smoother.
If you're able to communicate, and you’re both on the same page with each other, then I would recommend a check-list of sorts (below), to establish — and agree on — to make your progression to Mediation much more streamlined.
Some things that you both would want to agree on would be:
(a) the willingness to mediate (as mentioned above);
(b) a general idea of what the issues are;
(c) when to mediate? (i.e., how soon? what days work best? weekends or week-days?);
(d) will you engage with a paid mediator or free community-based organisation (e.g., a Family Relationships Centre)?;
(e) will the proposed Mediation be in-person, online, or 'shuttle'?; and
(f) if you do opt for a private mediator, then what's the most affordable option (and will costs be split 50/50)?
The above is just a rough guideline (there could be more or less depending on your situation), but for now, the best thing that you could do is:
first raise the topic of Mediation if possible (and allow the other party to engage in the discussion after they have conducted their own research on it).
We've both agreed to mediate. Do we still need separate Intake Sessions?
Yes.
Each party must participate in an individual Intake Session before Mediation can be scheduled.
These sessions allow the mediator to gain a better understanding of your circumstances and determine whether mediating via Currawong House would be an 'appropriate' process for your matter.
Intake Sessions are an important part of ensuring the mediation process is conducted for the safety of everyone involved.
What is the difference between 'Mediation' and 'Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)'?
Let's break that down in three four (4) points:
1.'Mediation' is a general umbrella term that is used to refer to any kind of Mediation (or modality of Mediation).
2.'FDR' is a more specific type of Mediation that deals with Parenting or Property Matters (as governed under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)).
3. We can get even more specific and refer to each sub-category (of FDR) as either 'Parenting Mediation' or 'Property Mediation'.
4. Currawong House only offers Parenting Mediations, but we will also refer to this sub-category as 'Mediation' or 'FDR' interchangeably.