Separation does not have to end up in a courtroom. Mediation gives you and your former partner a calm, structured space to work through parenting and property decisions, with an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner guiding the conversation.
We are a Sunshine Coast family law practice, so you are not just getting a mediator. You are getting someone who understands how these agreements hold up down the track, what the court would expect, and how to keep the process moving without the cost and delay of litigation.
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Accredited FDR Practitioner
Section 60I Certificates Issued
Sunshine Coast, Gympie, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg
In Person or Online
What Family Dispute Resolution Actually Involves
Family Dispute Resolution, or FDR, is a form of mediation designed specifically for separating families. An independent practitioner sits between both parties, helps you each say what matters most, and works through the practical decisions one at a time.
For most parenting matters, the law requires you to make a genuine effort to resolve things through Family Dispute Resolution before you can apply to the court. Our practitioner is accredited under the Attorney-General’s Department and can issue a Section 60I certificate where it is needed.
Nothing said in mediation is used against you later. The process is confidential, you are never locked into an outcome you are not comfortable with, and you keep control of the decisions rather than handing them to a judge who has met your family for an hour.
Mediation Services We Offer
Parenting and Family Dispute Resolution
Sorting out where the children live, how time is shared, schooling, holidays and the day to day decisions. We keep the focus on workable arrangements rather than old arguments, and we issue Section 60I certificates when mediation is not appropriate or does not resolve the matter.
Property and Financial Mediation
Dividing assets, superannuation, debts and the family home. Mediation lets both of you see the full picture and negotiate a settlement without two sets of legal fees running for a year.
Child Inclusive Practice
Where it is appropriate, a qualified child consultant meets with the children separately and brings their views into the mediation, so decisions are made with a clear sense of how the arrangements actually feel for them.
Shuttle and Online Mediation
If being in the same room is not workable, we run shuttle mediation with each party in a separate space, or the whole session online. Safety and comfort come first, and the process still works.
Post Separation Parenting Support
Arrangements that worked two years ago often stop working as children get older. We help parents revisit and update agreements without starting from scratch.
Pre Mediation Advice and Preparation
As a family law firm, we can also advise you on where you stand before you walk into mediation, so you are negotiating with a clear understanding of your position.
Why Families Choose Mediation Over Court
Mediation is not a soft option. For most separating families it is the faster, cheaper and far less damaging way to land the same decisions a court would eventually make for them.
Talk to us about mediation
1Day Typical
Most mediations resolve in a single day — most contested court matters run well over a year.
Mediation vs. court, at a glance
Mediation
Court
Timeline
4–6 weeks
12–18+ months
Cost
From $2,500
$40,000+
- It costs a fraction of litigation. A contested family law matter can run for well over a year and cost tens of thousands. Most mediations resolve in a single day.
- You decide the outcome. A judge applies the law to the facts in front of them. Mediation lets you build an agreement around your actual circumstances.
- It protects the co-parenting relationship. You will be dealing with each other at school events and birthdays for years.
- It is private. What is discussed in mediation stays there. Court proceedings are a matter of record.
- It is faster. Most clients are booked in within weeks, not waiting months for a court date.
How the Mediation Process Works
1
Initial Enquiry
A short conversation about your situation so we can work out whether mediation is the right step and what needs to happen first.
2
Individual Intake Sessions
We meet with each party separately and confidentially, screen for safety and make sure mediation is appropriate.
3
Preparation
We set the agenda, gather any financial documents needed, and agree on the format, whether that is face to face, shuttle or online.
4
The Mediation Session
Usually a half or full day. The practitioner guides the discussion issue by issue and keeps things focused on outcomes.
5
Agreement and Next Steps
Where agreement is reached we document it and talk through how to formalise it. Where it is not, we issue the certificate you need.
Section 60I Certificates
Before you can file a parenting application with the court, you generally need a Section 60I certificate from a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. There are limited exceptions, including matters involving family violence, child abuse or urgency.
We can issue a certificate that records whether you attended, whether the other party attended, and whether both of you made a genuine effort to resolve the matter. If you are unsure whether you need one, call us and we will tell you straight.
Mediation Fees
We quote up front so there are no surprises. Mediation is charged per party, and in most cases the total cost to both of you is less than what a single contested court event would run to.
Step one
Intake
$250AUD
Per party
A confidential one-on-one session before mediation begins.
Mediation / FDR
Half Day
$2,000AUD
Per party
Up to 4 hours. Includes a written agreement or parenting plan.
Mediation / FDR
Full Day
$3,000AUD
Per party
Up to 7 hours. Includes a written agreement or parenting plan.
Section 60I
Certificate
$100AUD
Per party
Issued where mediation is not appropriate or does not resolve the matter.
Prices are confirmed and quoted up front, with no hidden extras. Mediation is charged per party, and in most cases the total cost to both of you is still less than a single contested court event.
Cam Dang
Principal Solicitor & MediatorMeet Your Mediator
Your mediation is led by Cam Dang, Principal Solicitor and Nationally Accredited Mediator, with 10 years working alongside separating families on the Sunshine Coast. Practical, calm, and patient enough to let difficult conversations play out properly, Cam keeps every session focused on workable outcomes rather than old arguments.
- Principal Solicitor
- Nationally Accredited Mediator
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Admitted to Practice in Queensland
- Member of the Queensland Law Society
- Member of the Family Law Practitioners Association
“We believe good legal advice should feel like a conversation — not a confrontation. You talk, we listen, and together we find the clear path forward.”
— Cam Dang, Principal SolicitorWho We Work With
Separating and Divorcing Couples
Parents Renegotiating Existing Arrangements
Grandparents and Extended Family
Couples Settling Property and Finances
Common Questions About Family Mediation
Do we have to be in the same room?
No. Plenty of our mediations run as shuttle sessions with each party in a separate room, or entirely online. You will never be put in a situation you are not comfortable with.
Is a mediated agreement legally binding?
Not on its own. A parenting plan is a written record of what you have agreed but is not enforceable. To make it binding, the agreement can be turned into consent orders or, for financial matters, a binding financial agreement. We can prepare these for you.
What if there has been family violence?
Tell us during intake. In some cases mediation is still appropriate with the right safeguards in place. In others it is not, and you may be exempt from the requirement to attend. We assess this carefully for every matter.
How long does mediation take?
Most matters resolve in one session of half a day to a full day, after separate intake appointments. Complex property matters occasionally need a second session.
Can I bring my lawyer?
In many mediations, yes, particularly property matters. We will discuss the right format with you beforehand.
What if we do not reach an agreement?
You are no worse off. We issue the certificate you need to apply to the court, and you go in with a much clearer picture of what is actually in dispute.
Ready to Resolve Things Without Going to Court?
Book an initial consultation and we will talk through your situation, whether mediation is the right fit, and what the process would look like for your family.
Book a Mediation ConsultationCall 0413 174 775
Speak With a Family Lawyer on the Sunshine Coast
If you are looking for compassionate and practical family law guidance on the Sunshine Coast, Clear Path Family Law is here to help.
We understand that taking the first step can feel difficult, which is why we focus on creating a supportive and welcoming environment for every client.