Family dispute resolution is mediation for separating parents that usually needs to happen before either parent can apply to court for parenting orders.
Listen to this article
Family dispute resolution, usually shortened to FDR, is a structured form of mediation that helps separating parents work out parenting arrangements with the help of an independent, accredited practitioner. In most cases, it is a required step before either parent can apply to court for parenting orders. The process is confidential, focused on the children's needs, and designed to produce a workable agreement without a judge deciding the outcome for you.
Family dispute resolution is the formal term used in the Family Law Act for mediation between separating or separated parents about children's arrangements. The person who runs the session is called a family dispute resolution practitioner, or FDRP, and must be accredited under national standards set by the Attorney-General's Department. An FDRP does not act for either parent and does not provide legal advice to either side. Their role is to help both people talk through the practical questions that matter most to a child's day-to-day life: where the children live, how time is shared between homes, how school holidays and special occasions are handled, and how bigger decisions about schooling, health and welfare get made going forward.
Under the Family Law Act, a parent generally needs to make a genuine effort at FDR before filing an application for parenting orders in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. This requirement exists because the court expects families to try to resolve parenting matters themselves first, with support, rather than starting with litigation. There are recognised exceptions, including situations involving family violence, a risk of child abuse, genuine urgency, or where one parent will not engage and a certificate reflecting that has already been issued. Mediation is not a substitute for legal advice, and Alternative Mediations does not provide legal advice. If a court application may be needed, it is worth speaking with a qualified legal practitioner about how these exceptions apply to your circumstances before deciding on next steps.
Most FDR processes begin with a separate intake conversation with each parent, usually held individually rather than together. This is where the practitioner checks that mediation is appropriate for the situation, screens for safety concerns and any imbalance of power between the parents, and explains how the joint session will run. If both people are ready to proceed, the joint session follows, either together in the same room, online by video, or shuttled between separate spaces if that better suits the family's circumstances. The practitioner keeps the conversation focused on the children rather than on past grievances, helps both parents set an agenda for what needs to be decided, and works through each issue in turn at a pace both parents can manage. Sessions can run for a few hours or be split across more than one meeting, depending on how much ground needs to be covered.
When FDR results in agreement, the outcome is usually written up as a parenting plan, a document both parents sign that sets out the arrangements they have agreed to for their children. A parenting plan is not the same as a court order and is not legally enforceable in the same way, though it carries weight if arrangements are later formalised or reviewed. If FDR does not result in full agreement, or if one parent does not attend or does not make a genuine effort to participate, the practitioner can issue a certificate confirming this, which is generally needed before applying to court. Either way, families leave the process with a clear record of what was discussed and, in most cases, a workable plan they built themselves rather than one handed down by a court.
FDR tends to be faster than litigation, considerably less expensive, and less damaging to the ongoing relationship between parents who will still need to communicate about their children for years to come. Sessions are private rather than heard in open court, the process is flexible around each family's circumstances and timetable, and parents keep control over the outcome rather than handing the decision to a judge who has met them once. For many families, this combination of speed, cost and control is reason enough to try FDR properly before considering court, particularly when both parents are willing to sit down and talk in good faith about what their children need.
If you are separating and need to work out parenting arrangements, a confidential conversation with an accredited FDR practitioner is a practical first step, available in person or online, wherever you are in Australia.
FDR stands for family dispute resolution, the formal mediation process used under the Family Law Act to help separating parents agree on parenting arrangements. It is run by an accredited, independent family dispute resolution practitioner, or FDRP.
FDR is a specific type of mediation for parenting matters after separation. It follows the same basic structure as general mediation, but the practitioner must be accredited under national FDR standards and the process is recognised by the family law courts.
In most cases, yes. A parent generally needs to make a genuine effort at FDR before filing for parenting orders, unless an exception applies, such as family violence, urgency, or child safety risk. A qualified legal practitioner can advise on whether an exception applies to your situation.
If one parent will not engage in FDR or does not make a genuine effort, the practitioner can issue a certificate reflecting this, which the other parent can use to support a court application. The practitioner will usually still attempt contact and explain the process before reaching that point.
Timing varies with each family's circumstances and how many issues need to be worked through. Some families reach agreement in a single session, others need a series of shorter meetings. An intake conversation with a practitioner will usually give you a realistic sense of what to expect.
Alternative Mediations provides Family & Separation mediation across Australia, in person or online. Initial enquiries are confidential and obligation-free.
Book a Confidential ConsultationGet in touch for a confidential conversation. We will explain the process and help you understand whether it is right for your situation.