Child Inclusive Practice brings the voice of the child into the mediation and provides an opportunity for parents to hear from their children as to how they are experiencing the parental separation.

Child Inclusive Practice provides a safe space for parents to reflect on how they can strengthen their post separation parenting arrangements in consideration of the best interests of the child.

With consent from both parents, the child meets with a specially trained child consultant who supports the child to explore and articulate their experiences of parental separation, and life within their family. Using various creative activities the child consultant helps the child to explore their emotional, psychological and physical environment in a safe and confidential manner.

Although parents know their children best, the child consultant can bring special knowledge of a child’s development and the impact of separation on children to the process. Children are asked for permission to share any feedback about how they are coping. Parents hear this feedback from the child consultant in a Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) session. This feedback helps parents jointly agree on a new child-focused agenda to inform their conversations in FDR.

What’s involved in Child Inclusive Practise:

1. In consultation with FDRP’s, both parents agree to Child Inclusive Practice
2. Children meet with the child consultant
3. Parents receive feedback from the child consultant in a mediation session
4. Parents are assisted in reflecting on the feedback and how to incorporate that feedback into future parenting agreements.