Want to Agree on Parenting and Property Without Court, or Need a Section 60i Mediation Certificate?
Private FDR mediation with an accredited practitioner — no public waiting list, and fixed fees you know before you start.
Accredited Mediator (AMDRAS) · Accredited FDR Practitioner · LLM (Family Law) · Fixed fees · Zoom Australia-wide or in person in Melbourne
Check If Private Mediation Suits You
Answer a few quick questions. It's confidential and we aim to reply within one business day. Your first step can be a free 15-minute information call to check FDR suits your situation and explain the steps and costs.
Rated 5.0 by our clients on Google
Office Hours
9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
(Conferences by appointment only)
Clarence Chambers,
Level 11, 456 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Appointments
After-hours & virtual appointments available.
All conferences by appointment only.
Private Family Dispute Resolution, Without the Public Waiting List
With private FDR, your matter is assessed and moved forward without joining a waiting list.
Once suitability is confirmed and fees are paid, appointments can usually be arranged sooner, subject to both parties' availability.
Most mediations run securely by Zoom, so each person joins from a separate, private location. In-person mediation is available by appointment in Melbourne.
How FDR Mediation Works
1. Initial enquiry
We explain the process, confirm the issues to discuss and book your individual pre-mediation session. Suitability is assessed privately before any joint session.
2. Individual pre-mediation session
Each person meets the mediator separately to understand the process, raise any concerns privately and prepare for mediation.
3. Joint mediation
Both parties work through the agreed issues with Shane as the neutral mediator, by Zoom or in person at Clarence Chambers, Melbourne. Private breakout sessions can be used where helpful.
4. Outcome and next steps
Agreements can be recorded in a parenting plan or heads of agreement, then formalised with independent legal advice. If agreement isn't reached, a Section 60I certificate may be issued where the legal requirements are met.
Clear, Fixed Fees for Private FDR
You will know the cost before you start. Our standard fees are:
Individual Pre-Mediation Session
$330 including GST per participant.
Four-Hour Joint Mediation
$880 including GST in total, or $440 per participant when shared equally.
Section 60I Certificate
$110 including GST, where a certificate can be issued and is required.
Any additional sessions or work are discussed and quoted before they go ahead.
Do You Need a Section 60I Certificate?
Before applying to court for parenting orders, you generally must make a genuine effort to resolve the issues through Family Dispute Resolution, unless an exemption applies.
If agreement isn't reached, or the other party won't take part, an accredited FDR practitioner can issue a Section 60I certificate where the legal requirements are met. The certificate records the outcome only, not what was said in mediation.
The requirement applies to parenting applications. It does not ordinarily apply to property or financial applications alone. Exemptions can apply, so get legal advice before starting court proceedings.
Online FDR Mediation, Wherever You Are in Australia
Most of our FDR conferences run securely by Zoom.
Each person joins from a separate, private location such as home or work, so there is no travel and no need to share a room.
You still get a structured process, clear guidance and time to work through every issue that matters.
Move forward without needing to be in the same room.
Shane McClure: family lawyer, Accredited Mediator (AMDRAS) and accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Your Mediator: Shane McClure
Family Dispute Resolution gives you a clear, structured way to work through parenting, property and financial issues without going straight to court.
Shane is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Accredited Mediator (AMDRAS) and experienced family lawyer with a Master of Laws in Family Law. As mediator, his role is neutral: to help both parties identify the issues, explore practical options and work towards an informed agreement.
You can expect:
a structured process that keeps discussions focused and productive;
clear explanations about how Family Dispute Resolution works and what may happen next;
practical discussion grounded in an understanding of Australian family law;
support to address parenting, property and financial issues in a balanced way;
mediation by Zoom Australia-wide or in person at Clarence Chambers, Melbourne; and
a Section 60I Certificate where the legal requirements are met.
The mediator cannot give either party legal advice. Each person can get independent legal advice before, during or after mediation, especially before formalising an agreement.
What You Can Resolve Through FDR Mediation
FDR can help you settle parenting, property and financial issues.
Parenting Arrangements
Where the children live, time with each parent, holidays, travel, schooling and medical decisions.
Property and Finances
Working out property, savings and superannuation, with the aim of a practical agreement.
Children's Costs
School fees, medical costs and activities, and how they will be shared.
Co-parenting Communication
Clear arrangements for communication, changeovers, decision-making and future disagreements.
Why Choose Mediation Over Court
Mediation gives you more control, lower costs and less delay.
Decisions stay with you
You shape an agreement that suits your family, instead of a judge imposing one.
Lower cost
Private mediation usually costs far less than going to court.
Faster resolution
No waiting for court listings. Private mediation keeps your matter moving.
Child-Focused Arrangements
Agreements reached together are more likely to be followed and easier to live with.
Confidential
What is said in mediation generally cannot be used as evidence in court.
Better co-parenting
A structured process supports clearer communication for the years ahead.
Agree on Parenting Arrangements Without Going to Court
FDR gives parents a structured, supported way to work through parenting issues. You can agree on:
where the children will live;
time with each parent;
holidays and special occasions;
communication and changeovers;
schooling, health and other major decisions; and
how future disagreements will be managed.
The aim is not to decide who wins. It is to reach practical, child-focused arrangements that both parents understand and can follow, with you shaping the outcome rather than a court.
Private FDR offers timely access, a clear process and a mediator with extensive family law experience.
STILL NOT SURE?
Common Questions About FDR Mediation
What is family dispute resolution (FDR)?
FDR is a type of mediation for families. A neutral, accredited FDR practitioner helps you and the other party resolve parenting, property and financial issues without going to court.
Do both parties have to take part?
Joint mediation needs both parties. If the other party will not take part, we can invite them, and if they decline or do not respond, a Section 60I certificate may be issued where the legal requirements are met.
Is mediation confidential?
Yes. What is said in FDR is confidential and generally cannot be used as evidence in court, subject to limited exceptions set by law.
How long does it take?
Each individual pre-mediation session usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. The joint mediation is booked for up to four hours. Some matters resolve in one joint session; others need more.
How much does private FDR cost?
$330 including GST per person for the pre-mediation session, $880 including GST for a four-hour joint mediation (or $440 each when shared), and $110 including GST for a Section 60I certificate if one is needed. Any extra work is quoted first.
What if we cannot reach agreement?
Where the legal requirements are met, a Section 60I certificate can be issued recording the outcome, which allows a parenting application to be filed in court if needed.
Is a mediated agreement legally binding?
Not on its own. Agreements can be formalised as consent orders or a binding financial agreement, and each person should get independent legal advice first.
Can property settlements be resolved through mediation?
Yes. Mediation is commonly used to agree on property and financial settlements, which can then be formalised as consent orders or a binding financial agreement.
What is the difference between private FDR and a public service?
Private FDR is paid privately, and appointments can usually be arranged sooner. Each matter is assessed for suitability before mediation goes ahead.
Take the First Step Towards an Agreement
You do not need every issue sorted before starting FDR.
Start with a confidential enquiry and we will explain the process, check availability and outline the next steps.
We aim to reply within one business day.
P.S. If the other parent won't take part, we can still invite them. If they decline or don't respond, a Section 60I certificate may be issued where the legal requirements are met.