What is family mediation? People refer to ‘mediation’ in many different ways. It can be as informal as having a friend or family member helping to talk through the issues in dispute. It can also be a formal process involving a professional mediator. Family Disputes can involve just two people in conflict, or include extended family members. Where there are issues related to child protection, mediation may involve full family group conferencing. When family disputes can’t be resolved by mediation, the matter may need to go to a court for a judge to make decisions. Going to court is a long, stressful and expensive process. The aim of mediation is to avoid the situation reaching this point. The family dispute law system encourages separated families to come to their own arrangements in caring for their children without going to court. This can be done in several different ways: discussion between the parents using a friend or family member to help informal general mediation using a special family mediation process covered under the Family Law Act 1975 called Family Dispute Resolution (FDR).
