Family Mediation
At Creative Family Law Solutions, we believe that family mediation works best when families come together to clarify their goals, focus on shared interests, and prioritise their children’s needs.
Our experienced mediators help you find common ground and reach mutually acceptable agreements that last.
The wisdom of parents will always be relied upon, as it is their knowledge of their children, themselves and their lived experience that informs good communication and negotiation.
Information gathering is an important beginning, as it enables parties to have all the relevant details at their fingertips for the development of a future vision and appropriate goals.
Relevant education around parenting, communication and negotiation will result in a growth mindset and facilitate robust and lasting outcomes.
Professional legal support can be crucial to understanding rights and entitlements, consequences, and to open up thinking for great option generation and will ensure that your agreement is captured and formalised.
Safety must be fundamental to all situations, as the foundation for opportunities of growth in the future.
Our Accreditations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mediation?
Family Mediation (also known as family dispute resolution) is a supportive, flexible and confidential process designed to help families resolve issues efficiently, respectfully, and on their own terms, with the guidance of an impartial mediator. Our approach adapts to your unique situation, providing clarity and structure when you need it most. The process includes four key stages:
Invitation to Participate
You can submit background information and book an individual free 15-minute consultation to explore whether mediation is right for you. We introduce the mediation process and its benefits, helping you understand how it can create a more positive path forward.
Intake Session
Each participant meets privately with the mediator, by phone, Zoom, or in person, to ensure mediation is the best fit and to tailor the upcoming sessions to your needs and goals. This step helps create a safe, secure foundation for productive discussions, and enables you to know how to prepare for the process.
Settlement Conference
This is where progress happens. All parties meet in person or online to work toward practical, mutually agreeable solutions for the identified issues arising from their separation. This can take place jointly in the presence of all parties, or where the mediator moves between the parties on a shuttle basis. The mediator guides the conversation with a balanced mix of joint and private discussions, helping you to move closer to resolution with confidence.
Review
Life changes, and your agreement can, too. Mediation allows you to trial arrangements, revisit decisions, and adjust plans if circumstances evolve and change. This built-in flexibility ensures your agreement remains workable and supportive over time.
How quickly can I arrange mediation?
Once all parties have committed to engage in mediation, we will arrange for the separate Intake Sessions and the Settlement Conference to take place at a mutually convenient time within a fortnight, or as agreed.
What can I discuss at mediation?
You can discuss any issue arising from your separation at mediation. This can involve any parenting or financial issue arising from the separation, such as decision-making, time arrangements, resourcing the children’s needs, communication, establishing separate households, property settlement, ongoing support, and many others.
Do I have to be in the same room as the other party?
You are likely to want to be directly involved in the mediation process and able to hear and respond personally at all steps. However, safety and comfort are a main priority, and in some cases, coming together would cause anxiety and discomfort, and may impact on capacity to engage in the process, and therefore the likely outcome. The best option for you would need to be discussed at Intake to support your full ability to participate in the process. Other options include conducting the process on Zoom, or in a format with the mediator “shuttling” between the sides, or having an advocate to provide a voice on your behalf in the process.
Do I have to consult with a family lawyer?
No, but it is highly recommended that at some stage, there will be input from a family lawyer. This can be important to ensure that all relevant information is known, to provide advice as to legal rights and entitlements, to assist with brainstorming potential options and ideas, and to ensure that all agreements are captured in a manner appropriate for the circumstances. Legal support can be obtained prior to, during, or after the mediation process.
Is an agreement reached at mediation legally binding?
If an agreement reached at mediation is signed and dated, then this is no longer confidential and can be shown to a court as evidence of the agreement. Several steps are required to convert such an agreement into court orders that are legally binding, should this become necessary. If a matter proceeds to court, the court will start with the most recent Parenting Plan or Agreement.
Hear from families who’ve worked with us
Loredana Del
I reached out to Matt from Creative Family Law Solutions when I needed assistance with a parenting plan. Matt was so compassionate, informative and very knowledgeable. He made sure that I felt heard and was always so easy to communicate with. Matt always gave me clarity on any question or concern that I had and made this process feel a lot more seamless than it could have been. I highly recommend Matt for any Family Law matters you may have.
Dr Andrew Dawson
Susan and her team at CFS have done a stellar job of helping me navigate the fraught process of marriage separation and financial settlement. Her expertise, experience and wisdom shone through in both the lead up to and on the day of mediation. I can’t thank you enough Susan and I will unreservedly recommend you to anyone needing help with matters related to family law.
Danae Lawson
I experienced Susan Hamilton-Green’s profound knowledge, experience and strength to discuss debate etc regarding my case. I felt supported, understood and cared for regarding my case. Susan is such a lovely caring person, strong and precise. I am so blessed and thankful to have met you and gained such excellent support throughout the process of my case which can be daunting and stressful. So from the bottom of my heart. Thankyou very muchly.
Tayla Goodwin
Could not recommend highly enough as representation. Both Sue and Antonia made the process of family court and mediation stress free and they didn’t make me feel like a number or just another client they were understanding and compassionate. They managed to help resolve a custody agreement in a timely manner and did not hesitate to respond when contacted for any information.
Sayo K
Matt was very professional and supportive throughout the process. He communicated clearly and made me feel comfortable and reassured. I truly appreciated his caring approach and would highly recommend Creative Family Law Solutions.
John Damiano
I couldn’t speak or recommend Susan highly enough. Susan was caring and understanding of the difficult situation and was able to resolve my divorce in a matter of weeks, compared to 18months with other lawyers. Susan was very professional and I am very grateful for her work and the team at Creative Family Law solutions as I had previously lost faith in the system.
Work with us
Every family’s journey is different, and we’re here to help you through yours with care and understanding. Get in touch to start finding a peaceful way forward.
Related resource
Lovingkindness- the crucial ingredient for Family Dispute Resolution
