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Hearing the Child's Voice in Mediation
Separation can be a difficult time for children. While decisions are made by parents, understanding a child’s experience, feelings and developmental needs can help parents make more informed, child-focused arrangements.
Child Consultation provides an opportunity for children’s perspectives to be safely considered within the mediation process — without placing them in the middle of parental conflict or asking them to choose between parents.
What is Child Inclusive Mediation?
Child Inclusive Mediation is a specialised mediation process where a trained child consultant meets with the children (where appropriate) to understand their experiences, concerns, wishes and needs in a developmentally appropriate and emotionally safe way.
The child consultant then provides feedback to parents during mediation to help strengthen understanding of the child’s perspective and support more child-focused decision making.
Importantly, children are not asked to make decisions or choose where they live. Rather, their voice is respectfully considered to assist parents in understanding how separation and current arrangements may be affecting them.
How Does the Process Work?
1. Parent Assessment and Preparation
Parents first participate in an assessment process to determine whether child consultation is appropriate and beneficial for the family.
2. Child Consultation
A qualified child consultant meets with the child or children in a safe, supportive and age-appropriate environment. Sessions are carefully tailored to the child’s age, developmental stage and comfort level.
3. Feedback to Parents
The child consultant provides carefully considered feedback to parents within mediation. Feedback focuses on themes, emotional experiences and developmental needs rather than placing pressure on the child or attributing blame.
4. Mediation and Future Planning
Parents then continue mediation with greater insight into their child’s needs and experiences, working collaboratively toward practical and child-focused outcomes.
Supporting Better Outcomes for Children
Child Inclusive Mediation helps parents move beyond conflict and better understand what their children may be experiencing during separation. By safely bringing the child’s voice into the process, parents are often better equipped to make thoughtful, developmentally informed decisions that support their children’s wellbeing now and into the future.
Want to learn whether Child Inclusive Mediation is suitable for your family? Contact us to discuss your circumstances and the options available.
Is Child Inclusive Mediation Right for Your Family?
Child Inclusive Mediation may be beneficial where:
- Parents are struggling to understand the impact of separation on the children ✔
- Children appear distressed, withdrawn or caught in the middle ✔
- Parenting arrangements are difficult to resolve ✔
- Parents want support to remain child-focused in decision-making ✔
- There are concerns a child’s needs or experiences are being misunderstood ✔
This process is not suitable for every family and careful assessment is undertaken to determine appropriateness.