Family Dispute Resolution is a mediation process, which utilizes a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, who is independent and neutral, to facilitate discussions between parents to assist them in reaching a child-focused resolution of parenting matters. Let’s learn further about court assisted FDR.
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners are required to undertake specialized training before they can take on such role and usually are social workers, psychologists or lawyers.
Whilst Family Dispute Resolution is offered by a multitude of private providers and also government funded bodies, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, now offers the process, through what is called, Court Assisted Family Dispute Resolution, for parenting matters.
The Court Assisted FDR is facilitated by a Registrar of the Court, who is a Court Officer with a background as either a Solicitor or a Barrister. Whilst a Registrar cannot make any decision during such process, they may approve the agreement reached between parties and issue Consent Orders in terms of same.
The Court will often make Orders which require parties to attend such process, should there be prospects of resolving matters, particularly after a Child Impact Report has been prepared, noting we have discussed Child Impact Reports in our previous Blog, What is a Child Impact Report and What Can I Expect? Such Child Impact Report assists the parties in reaching a resolution, considering that the Report usually isolates the issues and details recommendations about how best to progress a matter. In some matters, the Court makes provision for a Child Court Expert to also attend the process, to assist parents in discussions of their children’s needs and how they may be best met, noting that such Child Court Expert is usually a social worker or psychologist and is the person in Court, who prepares the Child Impact Reports, already mentioned.
If you have any queries upon your reading of this Blog and are considering whether Family Dispute Resolution may assist in your matter, please call our Gold Coast or Logan Family Lawyers on (07) 5679 8016, for a free fifteen-minute telephone chat.