for Parenting Arrangements
Blue Sky Child Inclusive Mediation provides the expertise and focus for parents who are in dispute after separation, to prioritise the best interests of their child when agreeing upon parenting arrangements.
Our highly qualified and experienced Child Consultant meets with your child to understand their experience of the family post separation and to elicit their views regarding future parenting arrangements.
The Child Consultant then works directly with our Qualified Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner to provide a therapeutic Mediation process. The Child Consultant throughout the Mediation provides feedback regarding the child’s views and experience and expert advice as to how the current and future living arrangements might impact on the child’s adjustment, wellbeing and development.
In the meeting with the child we seek to:
It is normal for parents to worry about their children finding the experience of meeting with the Child Consultant stressful and anxiety provoking, however every step is taken to ensure children feel comfortable, safe and supported to share their experiences. Because of this, whilst the Child Consultant will make every effort to engage your child, it cannot be guaranteed that your child’s views will be able to be elicited for use in the Mediation session.
McIntosh and Long (2006) have found evidence that improvement in mutual regard of the parties for each other as parents and an increased emotional availability of parents to their children often resulted from the child inclusive intervention, with important flow-on effects for the emotional wellbeing of their children up to one year after intervention.
The study “Children Beyond Dispute” funded by the Commonwealth Government Attorney-General’s Department, compared outcomes between two groups of separated parents, who attended Mediation over parenting disputes.
The parents engaged either in a Child Focused intervention, or in a Child Inclusive Mediation at one of three Relationships Australia Services (Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide).
Benefits of Mediation for Parenting Arrangements
Outcomes common to both groups included:
Additional Benefits of Child Inclusive Mediation
The Child Inclusive Mediation also resulted in a number of effects not evident in the other group. According to the study’s one year post intervention analysis, there were significantly better outcomes for the Child Inclusive Mediation group in the following areas:
Furthermore, agreements reached in the Child Inclusive Mediation were found to be significantly more durable and workable over a year as rated by both mothers and fathers.
“Anna was very professional and easy to talk to.”
“Anna cares about not just the matter at hand, but also about the individuals involved.”
“I would have no hesitation recommending Anna.”
“It was great to know I was totally in control of the outcome.”
“Blue Sky Mediation offered the utmost professionalism and assistance with my Family Law Mediation.”
“Anna is a highly skilled and experienced legal practitioner. It is clear from the outset that your experience will be streamlined and professional. I highly recommend Blue Sky Mediation.”
“Anna is a family law and separation expert. She made me feel at ease right away. The Mediation area is well laid out and gave each party plenty of space. Blue Sky is a professional service. Happy to recommend.”
“Best option for resolving family disputes. Anna and her team were wonderful.”
“Understanding and professional. My dealings with Anna and the Blue Sky team, although through unfortunate circumstances, have been positive. I was naive in thinking my partner and I could resolve our matters without assistance. Blue Sky made a daunting process that much easier and I have had no reservations in recommending the company to others seeking family law assistance.”
Specialists in Family Law Mediation