family law mediation, based in the southern highlands nsw, and servicing australia wide.
turn conflict into clarity.
Mediation gives you a voice in the conversation, not just a seat at the table. With a neutral mediator guiding the process, your concerns are acknowledged and understood. It’s a space where solutions are built through listening.
what i offer
Parenting mediation: Helping separated parents reach agreements on parenting arrangements, communication, and co-parenting plans
Property mediation: Assisting with financial settlements and property division to ensure fair and practical solutions
alternative to court: Resolving disputes efficiently without the high costs and emotional strain of legal proceedings
Impartial and supportive environment: Facilitating open dialogue and mutual understanding
Focus on long-term solutions: Empowering you to move forward with clarity
In-person and remote options for mediation sessions
Mediations with or without lawyers
Fixed flat fee of up to 6 hours, so you won’t get caught off guard by unexpected fees or run out of time.
how mediation works
1
Book a mediation
use our online booking system to choose a day and time that suits you and the other party.
2
mediation session.
each party will have the opportunity to both speak and listen in a calm and supportive environment as we make steps towards solutions.
3
formalise your agreements
after Your mediation you will receive a summary of the points you agreed upon.
the Solution focus mediations journey
I remember the moment I decided I wanted to become a Mediator. I was travelling home from Court after an extremely long day appearing and negotiating. I was running over the day in my head. I knew my passion and real strength lay in resolving matters and I messaged a colleague who had been at Court that day too. I said ‘hey, I think I am going to be a mediator’. Her reply was simple, ‘Yes, you were made for that’. I obtained my family dispute resolution qualifications and became a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) in 2018.
after 18 years as a lawyer working exclusively in family law and as a mediator for 8 years, I decided that I wanted to help separating couples in a different way; by keeping them out of the Court system. I took the leap out of Partnership in private practice, and Solution Focus Mediations was born.
Laura Mcgookin
Bachelor of law, Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology), Masters of Applied Laws (Family Law), family dispute resolution practitioner (fdrp).
What My clients say
frequently asked questions
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FDRPs are accredited by the Australian Attorney-General’s Department. They are trained specifically in family law, child-focused mediation, and dispute resolution, ensuring agreements align with legal requirements and best practices.
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a type of mediation that helps separating families reach their own agreements regarding issues surrounding family breakdown, including but not limited to, parenting arrangements and property, guided by a neutral and accredited FDR practitioner.
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Mediation is a structured, interactive process where a neutral third party, the mediator, assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through specialised communication and negotiation techniques, aiming for a mutually acceptable agreement.
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I have learnt from my years of attending mediations with clients that knowing how much the process will be is important to them and allows the mediation process to take it’s natural course. I charge a flat fee for up to a 6 hours mediation, regardless of the type of mediation. My fee also includes a short intake telephone discussion with each party and reading any position papers. If your mediation requires longer than 6 hours, we will either schedule in another mediation for the same set fee, or continue on at an hourly or part thereof, rate.
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I am aware that many separating people simply cannot afford the privilege of legal representation and a Mediator, many indeed cannot afford either. Over the years I have engaged lots of wonderful mediators myself and I am aware of the current rate Mediators are charging. I have made a conscious choice to offer a fixed flat fee mediation of up to 6 hours to allow mediating parties the assurance that they have sufficient time to discuss the issues and to afford them the ability to also obtain legal representation or advice, should they wish.
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Lawyers are most welcome, but it is not a requirement that you attend with one.
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I offer a fixed fee mediation of up to 6 hours, starting at either 9:00 am, 9.30 am or 10:00 am.
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Only if all parties involve agree to support persons attending.
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If you have a lawyer present, they will formalise any agreement reached on the day. If however you do not have a lawyer present, I will always send you a final letter summarising the agreement or advising no agreement had been reached. It is important to note that my role in the mediation is not as a lawyer, it is as a facilitator for each party to reach their own resolution, and this means that I am unable to draft any settlement documents.
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Yes, I do. If mediation has been genuinely attempted but it did not resolve, I will issue a s60I certificate which is inclusive in the fees.
If you require me to invite a party to a mediation, I will reach out no less than twice to the other party, and then, if I determine a s60I certificate should be issued, I will provide that to you. This service has a fee of $330. If after reaching out to the other party a mediation is scheduled, then no additional funds are required.
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Attend with a list of all the issues you wish to discuss and with an open mind. I will circulate various intake documents prior to the mediation which provide me with an understanding of the issues you would like to discuss and resolve. It is important that you attend the mediation
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Make sure you have access to paper, pen, water and food. It is also a good idea to have any documents with you which may need to be referred to throughout the mediation, along with a computer/phone with TEAMS account.
