Family dispute resolution, Australia-wide
Resolve it in weeks, not years — without going to court.
Fixed-fee family mediation with Amelia Trotman, an Accredited Family Law Specialist, Nationally Accredited Mediator and registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with more than 20 years in family law. Conducted online wherever you are in Australia, or in person in Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounds.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
What we can help you resolve
Parenting arrangements
Living arrangements, time with each parent, schooling, communication and everything in between — including issuing section 60I certificates where court becomes necessary.
Parenting & FDRProperty & financial settlement
Dividing property, superannuation and debts after separation — and satisfying the court’s pre-action dispute resolution requirements if proceedings are ever needed.
Property mediationDivorce & separation
Working out the practical arrangements that follow the end of a marriage or de facto relationship, so both of you can move forward.
Divorce mediationSection 60I certificates
If you need to apply for parenting orders, you’ll generally need a certificate from an accredited FDR practitioner first. Amelia is a registered family dispute resolution practitioner and can issue s60I certificates.
Section 60I certificatesHow it works
Enquire
Make an online booking or contact us to discuss the process. We’ll explain each step and issue an invitation to the other party where appropriate.
Private intake
Each party will have a confidential one-on-one session with Amelia. This includes the screening that’s a required part of family dispute resolution.
Mediation
A structured session by video-call or in person, with private breakout rooms — you never have to be face-to-face with the other party unless you choose to be.
Outcome
A parenting plan or heads of agreement you can have made binding — or, if agreement isn’t reached in a parenting matter, a section 60I certificate.
Why mediate privately?
Community-based mediation services do good work, but waitlists commonly run to months. Private mediation means a date within weeks, a mediator you choose, and a process built around your circumstances — at a fixed fee you know before you start. Compare that with contested court proceedings, which routinely take years and cost each party many times the price of a mediation.
And because we can run your mediation over secure video conference, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in Cairns and your former partner is in Perth — or whether you’d simply rather not be in the same room.
About Amelia
- Accredited Family Law Specialist (Queensland Law Society)
- Nationally Accredited Mediator (Mediator Standards Board)
- Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner registered with the Attorney-General’s Department (Cth)
- More than 20 years’ experience in complex family law matters
- Issues section 60I certificates in parenting matters
- Issues the Certificate of Dispute Resolution required under the FCFCOA Central Practice Direction
For lawyers
Booking a mediator for your client? Amelia conducts legally-assisted mediations online nationally and in person in Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounds, in both parenting and financial matters. Invitations, intake and certificate administration are handled end-to-end, and the published fixed fees include preparation. Enquire below for availability, or request Amelia’s mediation CV and fee schedule for your file.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to attend mediation?
No. Many people mediate without lawyers, and many attend with them — both work. A mediator can’t give either party legal advice, so we recommend getting independent advice before you mediate so you understand your options. If you have a lawyer, they’re welcome in the mediation.
What if my former partner won’t participate?
We can issue a formal invitation to the other party on your behalf. If they decline or don’t respond, and your dispute is about parenting, Amelia can issue the section 60I certificate you’ll generally need before applying to court — the fixed fee for invitations and certificate where mediation doesn’t proceed is $200 plus GST.
Is mediation confidential?
Yes, with limited exceptions set by law. What’s said in family dispute resolution generally can’t be used later in court, which is exactly what lets both people speak openly and explore options.
How quickly can we mediate?
Usually within a few weeks of both parties completing intake, depending on availability. Online mediation removes travel and scheduling friction, which is often what drags these things out.
We’re in different states. Does that matter?
Not at all. Family law is national, and online mediation works the same whether you’re in the same suburb or on opposite sides of the country.
Start with a confidential enquiry
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.
Home / Section 60I certificates
Need a section 60I certificate? Start here.
Before you can apply to the court for parenting orders, you’ll generally need a certificate under section 60I of the Family Law Act from an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner. Amelia Trotman is registered with the Attorney-General’s Department and issues certificates Australia-wide.
What a section 60I certificate is
The Family Law Act requires separated parents to make a genuine effort to resolve parenting disputes through family dispute resolution before going to court. The certificate is the document that proves you’ve done that — or that FDR wasn’t possible or appropriate in your circumstances.
Only an accredited FDR practitioner can issue one. A certificate can record that the other party didn’t attend, that both parties attended and made a genuine effort, that a genuine effort wasn’t made, or that the practitioner considered FDR inappropriate.
There are exemptions — including urgency and circumstances involving family violence or child abuse — where you can apply to the court without a certificate. If you’re unsure whether an exemption applies, get legal advice before deciding.
How the process works with us
You enquire and complete a confidential intake with Amelia. We then send a formal invitation to the other parent. If they participate, we attempt mediation — and most matters that reach a joint session resolve, which is a better outcome than any certificate. If they decline, don’t respond, or mediation is assessed as unsuitable, the certificate is issued promptly so your court pathway isn’t held up.
Because everything can be done via video conference or phone, it works the same in every state and territory, and the fixed fee of $200 plus GST for invitations and certificate where mediation doesn’t proceed is among the fastest and most economical routes available.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Common questions
How long does it take to get a certificate?
It depends mostly on the other party. The invitation process allows them reasonable time to respond; if they decline or don’t reply, the certificate can be issued shortly after. If they agree to mediate, the certificate (if still needed) follows the mediation.
How long is a section 60I certificate valid?
A certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of the last FDR attendance (or attempted attendance) it relates to. If you file more than 12 months later, you’ll generally need a fresh one.
What if I think mediation is unsafe in my situation?
Tell us at intake — screening for family violence and safety is a required part of the process, and it’s exactly what determines whether FDR is appropriate. Where it isn’t, that has its own certificate category, and exemptions to the certificate requirement may also apply. Please get independent legal advice about your circumstances.
Does my ex have to be in the same state?
No. Invitations, intake and any mediation can be handled by phone and/or video conference, wherever each of you lives in Australia.
Get your section 60I process started
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.
Home / Family dispute resolution
Family dispute resolution without the waitlist.
FDR is the formal process the law expects separated families to try before court. Community services often quote waits of several months — a private, registered practitioner can usually have your matter moving within weeks, at a fixed published fee, anywhere in Australia.
What FDR involves
Family dispute resolution is mediation conducted by a practitioner accredited and registered with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. It follows a defined process: confidential individual intake and screening for each party, then a structured joint session focused on reaching workable agreement about children, property or both.
Because Amelia is both a registered FDRP and an Accredited Family Law Specialist with more than 20 years in family law, the process is run by someone who understands not just mediation practice but what a court would actually do with your dispute — which is often what helps parties land on sensible ground.
Private FDR vs community services
Government-funded services are lower-cost and do important work, but demand means long queues, limited session time and no choice of practitioner. Private FDR gives you a named, senior practitioner, dates within weeks, sessions long enough to actually finish, and — in parenting matters — the same section 60I certificate if agreement can’t be reached.
For most families, resolving months sooner is worth far more than the fee difference — particularly when the fee is commonly shared between the parties.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Common questions
Is FDR compulsory?
For parenting matters, the court generally requires a genuine attempt at FDR (or an applicable exemption) before you can file. For property matters, the court’s pre-action procedures also expect a genuine attempt at dispute resolution. Either way, most people are better served resolving out of court where it’s possible and safe to do so.
What’s the difference between FDR and mediation?
FDR is family mediation conducted by an accredited, registered practitioner under the framework in the Family Law Act — which is what allows section 60I certificates to be issued. All FDR is mediation; not all mediation is FDR.
Can we deal with parenting and property together?
Yes. A full-day mediation commonly covers both. Many families prefer resolving everything in one process rather than running two.
What happens if we reach agreement?
Parenting agreements can be recorded as a parenting plan or made into consent orders; financial agreements can be documented as heads of agreement and then formalised. We’ll explain the options, and your own lawyers can advise you on which is right for you.
Enquire about family dispute resolution
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.
Home / Family mediation
Family mediation, wherever you are in Australia.
A structured, confidential process for resolving parenting and property matters after separation — run by a senior family law specialist, at a fixed fee, usually within weeks of your enquiry.
Why mediation is usually the sensible place to start
Court proceedings are slow, expensive, public and adversarial — and at the end, a stranger decides your family’s future. Mediation keeps the decision with the two people who know the situation best, in a process designed to lower the temperature rather than raise it.
Most family disputes that reach a properly-prepared mediation resolve there. Even partial agreement narrows what’s left, and everything discussed is confidential, so nothing is lost by trying.
How our mediations run
Each party completes a private intake and screening session with Amelia first — you’ll never be put into a joint session cold. Mediations run by secure video conference with private breakout rooms, so you’re never face-to-face with the other party unless you choose to be, and lawyers are welcome to attend with you.
Half-day and full-day formats are available at fixed fees, with no travel charges anywhere in Australia. In-person mediation is available in Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounds.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Common questions
Do we both need to agree to mediate?
Mediation is voluntary, but you don’t need the other party’s agreement to start the process — we can send a formal invitation on your behalf, and most people engage once a concrete, low-conflict pathway is put in front of them.
Can I have my lawyer with me?
Yes. Legally-assisted mediation is common, particularly in property matters, and often helps parties finalise agreements on the day.
What does family mediation cost?
Fixed fees, published on this page: $2,000 plus GST for a half day, $3,000 plus GST for a full day, commonly shared between the parties. There are no travel charges and no hourly billing.
What if we don’t reach agreement?
You’re no worse off — the discussions stay confidential, and in parenting matters Amelia can issue the section 60I certificate you’d need to take the next step. Many matters also settle shortly after mediation once positions have softened.
Enquire about family mediation
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.
Home / Divorce mediation
Divorcing? Mediate the things that actually matter.
In Australia, the divorce itself is paperwork. The hard parts — the children’s arrangements, the house, the super, the debts — are separate, and they’re exactly what mediation is built to resolve.
Divorce, parenting and property are three different things
A divorce application ends the marriage; it doesn’t divide a single dollar or decide a single overnight. Parenting arrangements and property settlement are resolved separately — by agreement if you can, by court if you can’t. That’s worth knowing, because it means you don’t have to wait for a divorce to sort everything else, and time limits apply to property claims after a divorce is finalised.
Mediation lets you resolve parenting and property in one structured process, typically in a single day, and then formalise the outcome properly.
A calmer, faster, cheaper path than litigating
Contested family law proceedings routinely run for years and cost each party tens of thousands of dollars. A full-day mediation is $3,000 plus GST, commonly shared between the parties, scheduled within weeks — and run by an Accredited Family Law Specialist who has spent more than 20 years seeing exactly how these disputes end when they don’t settle.
By video conference, it works wherever each of you now lives — separated couples are often no longer in the same city, and that stops mattering.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Common questions
Do we have to be divorced (or married) to mediate?
No. Mediation works before, during or after divorce — and equally for de facto couples, whose parenting and property matters are dealt with under the same national framework.
We can barely speak to each other. Will this work?
That’s the normal starting point, not a barrier. Intake happens separately, the mediator manages all communication, and breakout rooms mean you need never be in the same room — physical or virtual — as your former partner.
What do we walk away with?
In parenting matters, a parenting plan or the basis for consent orders. In property matters, a signed heads of agreement your lawyers can convert into consent orders or a binding financial agreement.
Are there time limits I should know about?
Yes — property and maintenance claims are generally subject to time limits (12 months after a divorce order takes effect; two years after a de facto separation), though leave can sometimes be sought out of time. Get legal advice early so a deadline doesn’t make decisions for you.
Enquire about divorce mediation
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.
Home / Property settlement mediation
Settle the property, keep the money in the pool.
Every dollar spent litigating a property dispute comes out of the very pool you’re dividing. Mediation resolves most matters in a single day, at a fixed fee, with a specialist who knows how courts actually decide these cases.
How property mediation actually works
Before mediation, both parties should exchange the key financial information — you can’t sensibly divide what hasn’t been disclosed. Where the value of any assets are in dispute, it is recommended that a joint valuation be obtained so that parties are working from the same (or similar) balance sheet. Amelia then works with you in a structured session to explore the issues in dispute, the road blocks to reaching agreement and practical options for settlement.
Working with an experienced accredited specialist gives you the added benefit of someone with the knowledge to be able to reality test the competing proposals against a likely outcome if you were to go to court.
Most matters resolve into a signed heads of agreement on the day, which your lawyers can convert into consent orders or a binding financial agreement.
Courts expect you to try and mediate first
The court’s pre-action procedures require parties to make a genuine effort to resolve financial matters before filing, and a Certificate of Dispute Resolution is required under the FCFCOA Central Practice Direction. Amelia issues these certificates — so if your matter does end up in court, your mediation has already satisfied what the court demands.
Legally-assisted property mediations, with each party’s solicitor attending by video conference, are a particular strength of the practice and frequently settle on the day.
Fixed fees, published up front
Fees are commonly shared equally between the parties. No travel charges for online mediations anywhere in Australia. Room hire for in-person mediations, where needed, is charged at cost. You’ll know the full cost before you commit — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Common questions
Do we need lawyers for property mediation?
It’s not compulsory, but in property matters independent legal advice is strongly recommended — and formalising your agreement as consent orders or a binding financial agreement will involve lawyers in any event. Many parties attend mediation with their solicitors.
What if my former partner hasn’t disclosed their finances?
Disclosure is addressed in preparation — both parties have a duty of full and frank financial disclosure, and mediation is scheduled once the essential information has been exchanged so the day isn’t wasted arguing about missing documents.
Is a mediated property agreement binding?
The heads of agreement records what you’ve agreed; it becomes binding when formalised as consent orders approved by the court or as a binding financial agreement. We’ll set out the pathway; your own lawyers advise and prepare the documents.
How long do we have to sort out property?
Time limits generally apply — 12 months from a divorce order taking effect, or two years from separation for de facto couples — so it pays to start well before a deadline looms.
Enquire about property mediation
Tell us a little about your situation and we’ll come back to you within one business day with next steps and available dates. Or call 07 3038 1122.