The Mediation Process can help you when your marriage has irretrievably broken down: To find resolution to areas of dispute such as residential rights under the family law, property settlement etc. with the minimum of legal and court fees.  Isolate the matters of dispute between parties through the assistance of a neutral third person or persons, thereby assisting you to develop options and alternatives to reach consensual and voluntary agreement that satisfies each participants (partner's and children's) needs. Attain acceptable resolution and settlement of issues of dispute through an impartial and neutral third party who has no authoritative decision-making powers.

 

WHAT IS MEDIATION?

Mediation, sometimes referred to as dispute resolution, is a decision-making process by which

people in a relationship are helped to co-operatively resolve their differences with the help of

qualified and impartial mediators. Such a relationship may be between husband and wife,

couples in a defacto arrangement, parent and child, family, employer and employee, or others

in dispute.

Because mediation is a structured process provided in a safe and supportive environment,

each participant can feel free to express their views openly.

• EVERYONE IN MEDIATION HAS THE RIGHT TO

Have an equal say.

To be encouraged to talk openly and without fear.

To check out and record agreements.

• AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COUNSELLING:

Mediation can be sought as an alternative to counselling.  Sometimes mediation arises out

of the counselling process. 

At Joan Spencer & Associates we may, as a part of counselling, offer a couple in a relationship

a process of resolution known as a "healing separation," or "therapeutic time-out."

Part of this "healing separation" is an agreement on how each will respect the rights of the other,

and  as they live apart, what financial and other arrangements are seen as necessary by the

couple concerned.

This process is a form of mediation.

If at the end of the process the couple resolve to end their relationship, a further mediation

session is offered  which involves consideration of such matters as:

Arrangements for children.

Division of property

Parenting of children. etc.

We can help you develop your parenting plan, as suggested by the Family Law Act.

• CO-PARENTING FOR DIVORCED OR SEPARATING COUPLES:

We also offer to divorced and separating couple a series of workshops to help them co-parent

their children.

• PARENT/CHILD/ADOLESCENT MEDIATION:

Parents sometimes find themselves in conflict with their children. Concerned that damage

to their child/adolescent may be occuring, they do not know where to turn. While counselling

may be indicated in some cases, reluctance of either party to enter a counselling position may

mitigate against this solution. Mediation offers an alternative resolution possibility

in these circumstances. Joan has led a team of workers in training prospective permanent carers,

(long-term foster care) to parent children who cannot return to their biological parents for various

reasons. This experience has well qualified her to help parents and children in dispute.

• FINANCIAL MEDIATION:

Couples who are divorced or in the process of separating may have difficulty in sorting out financial

obligations under the family law act.  We can help you with this process.

Joan Spencer & Associates is listed in the register of mediators published by Flinders University. 

Joan has a certificate in family mediation from the Family Mediation Centre which meets the requirements of the Federal Attorney's General's department requirements for family law mediation under the family law act.   Joan is registered for Family Dispute Resolution with the Federal Attorney's General Department. In addition her training as part of her Social Work degree qualifies her for general mediation.

 

 Email: enquiries@jspencer.com.au   

Page last updated 31st December 2006.