What to expect from mediation
If you're comparing options, or nervous about sitting in the same room as the other person, this page walks through exactly how it works, what it costs, and what it can and can't do.
Is mediation right for your situation?
Mediation works well when…
- Both people want things to be better, even if they can't talk about it yet
- The relationship has to continue: family, neighbours, business partners
- You want a say in the outcome, rather than having one imposed
- You'd rather sort it out in weeks, not months or years
- The cost and stress of a legal route feels out of proportion
It may not be the right tool when…
- There's family violence or a genuine safety concern, and other supports come first
- One party needs a legal ruling or precedent, not an agreement
- Someone is participating only to delay or game the process
Not sure which side you're on? That's exactly what the free call is for, and I'll tell you honestly if mediation isn't the right fit.
From first call to agreement
Free 15-minute call
You tell me what's going on. I'll give you a straight answer on whether mediation can help, what it would look like, and what it costs. If it's not the right tool, I'll say so.
Private intake conversations
Before anyone sits down together, I speak with each party separately. It's confidential, unhurried, and it means nobody walks into the joint session cold, because I already understand what matters to each of you.
The joint session: 2 hours
A structured conversation, online or in person. Everyone gets to speak without being interrupted. My job is to keep it calm, keep it fair, and keep it moving toward something practical.
Agreement and next steps
We finish with the agreements written down in plain language: who does what, by when. Most matters resolve in one session; if yours genuinely needs another, we'll decide that together, honestly.
What it costs, and what AMDRAS means
The numbers
The full package, including intake calls, a 2-hour joint session and written outcomes, is $590.
For comparison: once lawyers are involved, even a "small" dispute routinely runs to several thousand dollars per party and months of waiting, and the outcome is decided by someone else.
AMDRAS accreditation
AMDRAS stands for the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards, Australia's professional standard for mediators. Accreditation means formal training, assessed competency, ongoing practice requirements, and a code of ethics covering impartiality and confidentiality. You're not getting a well-meaning referee; you're getting a trained, accredited professional.
Things people ask before booking
Is it confidential?
Yes. Intake conversations are private between you and me, and the joint session is confidential under the mediation agreement everyone signs before we start. What's said in mediation stays in mediation.
What if the other person won't come?
This is the most common worry, and it's usually more solvable than it feels. Often an invitation from a neutral third party lands very differently than one from you. Part of my job at the start is making that approach in a way that doesn't put the other person on the defensive.
Online or in person: does it matter?
Both work. Online mediation (video call) is how most sessions run, since it's easier to schedule and some people find it easier to stay calm from their own space. In-person sessions can be arranged in Brisbane and the Northern Rivers.
Is the agreement legally binding?
The outcome of mediation is a written agreement between the parties.
Keep in mind there is no agreement without full agreement.
These agreements work because both parties have built them through the mediation process.
Should the agreement need to be formalised legally, you can take it to a lawyer afterwards. You leave mediation with a strong clear agreement.
I’m a mediator not a lawyer and I’ll always be straight with you about that line.
How long does the whole thing take?
Typically one week from first call to joint session, depending on everyone's availability. Compare that with months for formal processes.
Still weighing it up?
The free call exists precisely for that. Fifteen minutes, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether mediation fits.