FAQ Page

• First person who contacts Michelle – has a private and confidential intake session.
• Other party is then invited to attend their confidential intake session – given one week to respond.
• If no response from second party, Michelle would follow up
• Second party would book in with Michelle for a private and confidential intake session.
• Assuming mediation is an appropriate option, mediation is scheduled.
• Sometime multiple mediations are required.

At MSZ Mediation, you will be called/ text/ emailed back by your mediator directly.  You will not speak to a third party.

• Helping create parenting plans / parenting agreements
• Property mediation
• Will / estate disputes
• Sibling disputes
• Business partners in dispute
• Neighbour disputes

In mediation:

• You are in control of the outcome. If you go to court, you have no control and you have to abide by the judge’s decision.
• Mediation is a low cost option, where you can reach decisions in a short time frame and in your time frame.
• It is not adversarial
• It is confidential. If you go to court, any decisions are part of the public record
• It is fast. Sessions can be scheduled after hours
• As a result of all of the above, it is a less stressful process

How long is a piece of string?  That’s a really hard question to answer.  After your intake session, a letter will be sent to your ex inviting them to participate in mediation and to call to schedule their session.  They do not need to wait for the letter to arrive to book in for their intake session. Your mediation will be scheduled for a mutually convenient time.

If your case is urgent, and both parties are agreeable, it is possible to have it all over in one day!

Generally, mediations often go 3-4 hours.  May be longer for complex issues.

As a mediator, my belief is you have taken timeout of your busy schedule to attend mediation, so let’s keep going until you can reach some decisions.

Usually property / financial mediations take a few sessions.

Yes. Mediation is still a good option for you.  In your confidential mediation intake session, you will show your intervention order to your mediator and she will discuss any concerns you may have.  The mediator will discuss options to ensure you feel safe in the mediation process.

No, not at all.

Intake sessions as well as your mediation can be held via zoom or phone as well as face to face.

Not a problem at all.  Your intake sessions will be via zoom or phone and Michelle will discuss with you your preferred options for the joint session.

No.  This will be discussed in more detail in your intake session.  Mediation can be joint where both parties are in the same room (or virtual room), or we can do shuttle mediation, where parties are in separate rooms and the mediator goes between rooms.  Sometimes we may start in a joint session and go into shuttle mediation or start in shuttle and go into a joint session.  Any fears about your safety will be discussed in your intake session.

After your confidential intake session, Michelle will send a letter to your ex inviting them to participate.  This will be followed up with another letter if phone contact cannot be made.  Michelle will discuss with your ex the ramifications of not attending mediation.

Absolutely.  You do not need to do this alone.  If you would like to bring someone with you, support persons are welcomed at the intake session.

Mediation is between the parties and children are not permitted.

However, that does not mean your children’s voice is not heard.  We can do a ‘child inclusive session’ where your child/children would speak to a child counsellor and the child counsellor would come to mediation as the voice of your children and would deliver feedback to both parents.

Not at all.  Michelle is neutral and impartial and helps both parties make decisions and hopefully resolve issues in dispute.

These concerns can be discussed in your confidential intake session and if needed, Michelle will help you create a safety plan.

As a mandatory reporter, your mediator will further explore any safety issues.

A parenting plan / parenting agreement is an agreement the 2 of you make about the care for your children.

It often includes, but not limited to:

• time your children spend with each of you
• Where your children attend kindergarten/ school
• Special days (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, religious holidays, birthdays)
• How costs are shared
• How to co- parent
• Travel
• Communication
• Major decisions

While our primary locations are in Bondi Junction, NSW and Caulfield, VIC, the mediations have flexible locations, flexible times (after hour sessions by arrangement) and flexible mode (phone / zoom)

Your intake session is private and confidential and not shared with your ex partner.  Only exception to confidentiality is if Michelle hears something regarding harm to children or damage to property, as she is a mandatory reporter, she is need to report.

In property mediation, there is a 4 part process. Michelle will help you work out your asset pool, then discuss how you got there, then future needs and then discuss your proposals

Yes.  Mediation is not restricted to parents.

Yes.  Mediation is not restricted to parents.

Agreements made in mediation are good faith agreements.  If you need the agreement to be made legally binding, Michelle will be able to assist you with specialist family lawyers, if you do not have your own.

It is really hard to say as several mediations may be required.  The initial process, including intake sessions for each party and initial mediation session and written a agreement with S60(i) certificate if required, will cost between $2,000 – $3,000.