Child Inclusive Mediation,
Gold Coast.
Giving Children a Voice in Family Dispute Resolution
Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) is a specialised Family Dispute Resolution process that helps parents better understand and consider their children’s experiences when making important parenting decisions.
“A 15-minute call is often enough to know if mediation is the right path forward.”
- 0431 137 139
What is
Child Inclusive Mediation
Child Inclusive Mediation is a specialised form of Family Dispute Resolution that incorporates the involvement of a trained child consultant within the mediation process.
The child consultant meets with the child or children in a safe and supportive environment and then provides feedback to the parents during mediation. This feedback helps parents better understand how their children may be experiencing the separation, parenting arrangements, and family changes.
Importantly, children are not asked to make decisions or choose between parents.
Child Inclusive Mediation helps ensure that children’s needs remain central to discussions and future planning.
- Understanding children's experiences
- Identifying children's developmental and emotional needs
- Encouraging child-focused decision making
- Supporting healthier parenting arrangements
- Improving parental understanding and communication
Why choose
Child Inclusive Mediation?
Parents often enter mediation with strong views about what they believe is best for their children.
Child Inclusive Mediation provides valuable insight that can help move discussions beyond assumptions and focus on children’s actual experiences and needs.
Many parents find that hearing feedback about their children’s experiences helps shift discussions away from conflict and towards constructive problem solving.
Mediation is rarely about who's right — it's about finding a way forward that everyone can live with.
- Gives children a meaningful voice within the process
- Encourages child-focused decision making
- Supports healthier parenting arrangements
- Helps reduce parental conflict
- Improves parental understanding of children's needs
- Promotes cooperation and communication
- Supports children's emotional wellbeing
- Encourages more sustainable parenting agreements
Is Child Inclusive Mediation
Right for Your Family?
Not every family situation is suitable for Child Inclusive Mediation. An assessment is conducted to determine whether the process is appropriate and beneficial for all involved.
Child Inclusive Mediation may be beneficial where parents are:
- Experiencing ongoing parenting disputes
- Developing parenting arrangements following separation
- Struggling to agree on child-related decisions
- Concerned about the impact of conflict on their children
- Seeking to better understand their children's needs
- Reviewing existing parenting arrangements
- Looking for a child-focused approach to mediation
Child Inclusive Mediation vs
Traditional Parenting Mediation
Traditional parenting mediation focuses on helping parents discuss and resolve parenting issues through facilitated communication and negotiation.
Child Inclusive Mediation goes a step further by incorporating professional feedback from a child consultant, providing parents with additional insight into their children’s experiences and needs.
This additional perspective can often assist parents in developing more effective, child-focused arrangements and improve long-term outcomes for the entire family.
Child Inclusive Mediation and the
Best Interests of the Child
A central principle of Australian family law is that decisions affecting children should prioritise their best interests.
The process encourages thoughtful and informed decision making that supports positive outcomes for children and families.
Child Inclusive Mediation supports this principle by helping parents consider:
- Children's emotional wellbeing
- Developmental needs
- Relationships with parents and significant people
- Stability and routine
- Educational needs
- Long-term family relationships
06 / THE PROCESS
How Child inclusive Mediation Works
Child Inclusive Mediation typically involves several stages.
Initial Parent Intake Sessions
Each parent participates in an individual intake meeting to discuss their circumstances, parenting concerns, and goals for mediation.
Assessment for Child Inclusion
The Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and child consultant assess whether Child Inclusive Mediation is appropriate for the family situation.
Child Consultation
Where suitable, a qualified child consultant meets with the child or children.
The purpose of this meeting is not to ask children to choose sides or make decisions. Instead, it allows the consultant to better understand their experiences, feelings, concerns, and needs.
Feedback Session
The child consultant provides feedback to parents within the mediation process.
This information helps parents gain greater insight into how family changes may be affecting their children.
Mediation and Decision Making
Parents continue working with the mediator to develop practical parenting arrangements that support their children’s wellbeing and long-term development.
07 / WHY GCMG
Why families choose our practice.
We understand that family disputes are deeply personal and emotionally complex. Our aim is to help families reach practical solutions while maintaining dignity, respect, and a clear focus on future outcomes.
Professional & impartial
Tertiary-qualified, accredited practitioners. Neutral, structured facilitation grounded in family law and psychology.
Supportive environment
A respectful, calm setting — designed to lower temperature so the work of the mediation can actually happen.
Child-focused
Where appropriate, child-inclusive approaches help parents see arrangements through their children’s eyes.
Flexible mediation
In-person on the Gold Coast, secure video Australia-wide, or shuttle mediation where parties are not in the same room.
Experienced guidance
Over a decade across the Children’s Court, Federal Circuit & Family Court, and DFV jurisdictions.
Focused on moving forward
The goal is a durable agreement and a workable next chapter — not winning the conversation in the room.
08 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Short answers to the questions we hear most often. For anything not covered here, a 15-minute call is the fastest way to a real answer.
i. Do children attend the mediation session?
Children do not participate directly in mediation discussions between parents. Where appropriate, they may meet with a qualified child consultant whose role is to provide feedback to assist the mediation process.
ii. Are children asked to choose between parents?
No. Child Inclusive Mediation does not ask children to make decisions or choose sides. The process focuses on understanding their experiences and needs.
iii. What age do children need to be for Child Inclusive Mediation?
Suitability depends on a range of factors including age, maturity, family circumstances, and the purpose of the mediation. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
iv. Is Child Inclusive Mediation confidential?
Yes. The process operates within the confidentiality requirements that apply to Family Dispute Resolution services.
v. How do I know if Child Inclusive Mediation is suitable for my family?
Our team can discuss your circumstances and determine whether Child Inclusive Mediation may be an appropriate option.
BOOK A CONSULTATION
A calmer way
forward starts here.
Child Inclusive Mediation helps parents make more informed, child-focused decisions by bringing children’s experiences into the Family Dispute Resolution process in a safe and appropriate way.
If you would like to learn more about Child Inclusive Mediation on the Gold Coast, our team is available to discuss your circumstances and explain how the process works.
Contact GC Mediation Group today to arrange a confidential consultation.