Family Dispute Resolution Centre: A Safe Haven for Resolving Family Conflicts

1. Why Choose Family Relief ? Separating from a partner can be an immensely challenging experience, especially when children are involved. This presentation will explore strategies to navigate the emotional landscape and prioritize the well-being of your family during this transition.

2. Family Dispute Resolution We use a facilitative model of FDR specialising in working with parents and adapt (transform) the process to meet the psycho social emotional cultural needs of parents and children. Our assessment process is more than a short discussion for the mediator to be convinced that an agreement is possible. Our preparation makes us unique and we encourage family wisdom to be considered in discussions so that our future generation can develop a strong sense of cultural identity.

3. Prioritizing the Wellbeing of Your Children Maintaining Stability Open Communication Collaborative Parenting Provide a consistent routine and environment for your children, minimizing disruptions to their daily lives. Encourage open and age-appropriate discussions about the changes in the family structure, addressing any concerns or fears they may have. Work closely with your ex-partner to ensure your children's needs are met, even if the relationship is strained.

4. When Help Is Needed A parent becomes unwell sometimes.  The symptoms might affect parenting sometimes.  How do you look after them when you are unwell and how do you keep a healthy relationship with your little ones?  Family Relief can use Pre FDR Support strategies and FDR to • Help parents identify thresholds for safety vs risk outlined in an agreement. • Help parents identify what they can do at each stage of being unwell. • Help parents define their role, what to do when that role can not be met and create a plan that is supportive for children to feel safe and nurtured. • Develop joint language for children to respect parental diversity as well as to respond when they notice something isn’t quite right. They know how and where to get help.

5. When A Parent Must Go Away For A While? You may be aware of a change such as going away for work, travel restrictions, hospitalisation or incarceration. You may feel confused with the loss of help or with the responsibility of being the daily decision maker. You may worry about losing meaningful relationships with your children all together.  You may stress that someday, mum and dad will be in the same community again. What then? Family Relief can use Pre and Post FDR support and mediation to • Yarn with parents about their little person’s needs in preparation of the change, during the change and afterwards. • Agreements on help and parental roles before the change so there are no surprises. • Help parents feel stable knowing their role as parents while a parent is isolated and when the parent returns to the same community.

6. Fostering Resilience in Your Children We use a facilitative model of FDR specialising in working with parents and adapt (transform) the process to meet the psycho social emotional cultural needs of parents and children. Our assessment process is more than a short discussion for the mediator to be convinced that an agreement is possible. Our preparation makes us unique and we encourage family wisdom to be considered in discussions so that our future generation can develop a strong sense of cultural identity.