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OUR PROCESS

INITIAL CONSULTATION

Duration: 15 mins

Parties make initial contact to arrange their intake appointment. This is a complimentary and obligation-free session.

INTAKE APPOINTMENT

Duration: 60 - 90mins

A confidential appointment held individually for both parties.

Within the session, the practitioner will:

Spend time gathering information about the client's circumstances
Outline the stages of the mediation process
Discuss techniques to prepare for mediation
Establish who will attend the session
Clarify legal representative's contact details
(legally assisted mediation)
Materials required for review by the mediator
Provide further information about the service and any appropriate referrals

INVITATIONS TO PARTICIPATE

The other party is invited to the process. If engaged in the process, they too will follow the intake and assessment process.

PRE-MEDIATION

Duration: 30mins - 1hr

If required, an additional confidential appointment will be arranged individually with both parties prior to mediation to workshop goals and discuss preparation for session.

Where applicable, pre-mediation appointments may also be held with both party's legal representatives prior to mediation to discuss objectives, manage expectations for involvement and discuss preparation for session.

MEDIATION
Our services are designed to help parties resolve disputes in a respectful and collaborative manner. Our experienced practitioners are present to facilitate the session, during which parties can present their list of topics for discussion.

The session is future-focused and can be held as a joint session or conducted individually via shuttle. Where suitable, lawyers or support people may also be present in session.

Depending on the complexity of the dispute, more than one session may be required to work through matters or to review the progress of joint decisions made based on a change of circumstances.

If parties are participating in Legally Assisted Mediation, they will each arrange their legal representatives to attend. In session, the role of legal representatives are to support and assist their clients, not to advocate on their behalf.

AGREEMENT

At PACT Mediation Services we are dedicated to supporting parties to resolve their disputes amicably and respectfully by collaborating with each other to reach mutually agreeable outcomes that are practical and sustainable. If parties do reach an agreement, this is in the form of a PACT; a handshake agreement which is not legally binding.

In order to make your agreements legally binding, for family and property matters, by agreement, this will involve lawyers and an application for consent orders.

If requested, we can further assist clients by providing further documentation such as a formatted parenting plan.