The greatest benefit of choosing mediation is that it enables divorcing spouses to make their own decisions. In dividing parenting time, for example, a judge might choose a standard schedule that’s used in many other cases. In mediation, spouses can structure a parenting plan that best fits their children’s needs.

A parenting plan is a voluntary agreement that covers the day to day responsibilities of each parent, the practical considerations of a child’s daily life, as well as how parents will agree and consult on important long-term issues about their children. It can be changed at any time as long as both parents agree.

Separation can be painful for everyone involved – especially children. During this challenging time, children need support, love and contact with both of their parents and other significant people, such as grandparents. Some certainty for the future is also important for everyone. The family law system encourages separating parents to work out arrangements for children between themselves without going to court. One way parents can set out the arrangements they wish to put into place for their children is to make a parenting plan.

What is best for your child is the most important thing for you to consider when you make your parenting plan.

To be a parenting plan under the Family Law Act 1975, the plan must be made and signed by both parents of the child. However, other persons, such as grandparents or step-parents, can be included in a parenting plan.

Yvonne is a professional mediator who can help you and your family work towards a more positive future. In a confidential and neutral environment, Yvonne can guide your family through this difficult period and reach agreeable outcomes.

Reaching an agreement on how you will divide up your property, other assets and your debts after your relationship is over is an important and often difficult task for couples who are separating.

Going to court to get a court order can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take months, even years,  if you get caught up in litigation.

Mediation will help you negotiate a mutually acceptable financial settlement agreement.

The way your assets and debts will be shared between you will depend on the individual circumstances of your family. This is individual to each couple and your settlement will probably be different from others you may have heard about.

It is best to consult with the mediator before or as soon as you separate as the practitioner will be able to help you work at interim arrangements for payment of mortgages and child support and help you map out the path forward.

Do seek legal and, when necessary, financial advice before agreeing on the terms of any financial settlement before applying for consent orders or binding financial agreement.

Yvonne can conduct mediation at Mermaid Waters on line or on the telephone to meet everyone’s needs.

You can benefit from mediation if you are experiencing conflict in your workplace, neighbourhood, extended family or are facing difficult to resolve issues with others. Hostile disagreements can severely impact your sense of community, workplace environment, family unit and individual happiness. Yvonne can provide you with the opportunity to control the situation and move towards a more positive future.

Relationship Mediation is for couples who have been struggling in their relationship and even started thinking about separation and divorce, however , feel that there might be enough left in the relationship to keep them together.

Relationship Mediation is a safe way for a couple to identify issues that have ‘plagued’ their relationship, allowing them to generate strategies that will provide practical solutions going forward. Both parties are given the freedom to openly discuss issues that have been festering and have frustrated healthy interaction. Relationship Mediation is about applying communication techniques designed to facilitate an understanding of the other person’s point of view, with the purpose of arriving at a workable solution for the future.  

Couples have found that Relationship Mediation has improved their communication, restored their emotional connection and helped them renegotiate their commitments.

As a professional mediator, Yvonne can help both parties to reach a mutually beneficial outcome in a safe, comfortable space. Yvonne’s services are available either in-person at the Gold Coast, online or over the phone for the convenience of both members.