Category: Parenting

Benefits of Parenting Coordination
Parenting, Parenting Coordination

Parenting coordination: the top 4 benefits for your family

Parenting coordination is a process in which a neutral third party helps parents resolve conflicts and make decisions about their children after a divorce. It can be a helpful tool for improving outcomes for children in several ways. Here are the top 4 reasons to consider parenting coordination for your family post-separation or divorce. 1. Parenting coordination helps reduce conflict between parents Parenting coordination helps parents communicate more effectively and resolve conflicts in a healthy, constructive way. This can create a more stable and less stressful environment for children, which is beneficial for their emotional and psychological development. 2. It […]

Do mothers have more rights than fathers in australian family law
Child inclusive mediation, Parenting

Do Mothers have more rights than Fathers in Australia?

Sometimes fathers feel like mothers have more rights than fathers in Australia’s family law system.  But the truth is, unlike some other countries, there is no gender bias in the Family Law Act.  The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia are required to make orders that are in the best interests of children, regardless of the parent’s gender or sexual orientation. What rights do fathers have in Australian family law? Fathers don’t have rights in Australian family law. But nor do mothers.  Yes, you read that right!   The way our family law system is structured, it is children who […]

Christmas school holidays
Child inclusive mediation, Mediation, Parenting

Christmas school holidays parenting deadline

The Christmas school holidays can be exciting times for families.  But if you haven’t been able to work out how the kids will spend time with each parent over Christmas, it can also be stressful.  How can I get time with my kids over the Christmas holidays? Each year, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia deal with applications for parenting time.  And each year, they set a deadline of the second Friday in November for an application to be filed for the Christmas school holidays.  If you don’t file by then, you miss the deadline and may not […]

empty classroom
COVID 19 Coronavirus, Parenting

School holidays extended due to COVID. Who gets the extra time with the kids?

With the Queensland school holidays extended and the return to school delayed due to the high rates of COVID in the state, many separated parents are faced with working out who will have the care of the children during those extra one or two weeks.   The answer about what to do will depend on a range of factors If you do not have Orders or a Parenting Plan who gets the extra time with the children? If you have a reasonably amicable co-parenting relationship then you and your co-parent will hopefully be able to work this out without too much […]

COVID19 Coronavirus co-parenting challenges
COVID 19 Coronavirus, Mediation, Parenting, Parenting Coordination

Co-parenting during COVID19 Coronavirus

Co-parenting can bring its challenges. The current COVID19 Coronavirus sweeping the globe is something that seems unlikely to improve a co-parenting relationship.But we don’t think it necessarily has to be that way. Coronavirus presents challenges for co-parenting Some co-parents are struggling right now. What do you do if one parent has to go into self-isolation? Do you still have changeover between the parents? What if there are immune-compromised grandparents who could be put at risk? If you have parenting orders in place, you must follow them unless you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. There is no definition of ‘reasonable excuse’ – […]

Parenting Coordination in Australia - AFCC Conference
Parenting Coordination

Former Chief Justice is a Cheerleader for Parenting Coordination

Parenting Coordination experts converge in Sydney This weekend, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts held the annual conference for their Australian Chapter. A one-day workshop was dedicated to Parenting Coordination, as well as a panel discussion on the final day of the Conference. Panellists included expert Parenting Coordinators from Australia, the US and South Africa, as well as the former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, the Honourable Diana Bryant QC. As someone who spent many years as a family law barrister, then a judicial officer, the former Chief Justice was able to offer a difference perspective.She […]

parenting co-ordination saves children from divorce
Parenting, Parenting Coordination

Parenting Co-ordination – how it can save your children from your divorce

It’s been around since 1980 in the USA and Canada but I believe it’s time for Parenting Co-ordination to become a widely accepted part of family law in Australia. Too often children are the real casualties of a relationship breakdown. Parenting Co-ordination is increasingly being recognised internationally as an essential child-focused part of the family law process. With over 20 years experience as a specialist family lawyer, I have seen the damage that can be done when children are exposed to ongoing conflict during or after family law proceedings. Conflict between parents during and after divorce or separation, can have […]