Bayside Mediation | Private Family Mediation Practice

Where Family Law Meets Common Sense

Child Custody and Parenting

Bayside Mediation is a private family law mediation practice, helping parents negotiate the care arrangements for their children without costly legal bills.

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Financial and Property Settlements

A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at Bayside Mediation can help you negotiate a settlement quickly, fairly and at a fraction of the cost of using solicitors.

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Family Law Mediation

Reach a quick, cost effective, empowered solution for you and your children with the help of a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at our family mediation practice.

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How are we different?

The Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner you speak with at your initial no obligation 30 minute appointment, is the person who will stay with you until your separation is finalised.

At our family mediation practice, over 85% of our couples reach a mediated agreement (children and/or financial) and go on to finalise their separation within 6 months of first contacting us.

There is plenty of 4hr parking located within walking distance of the purpose built offices at our family mediation practice. And unlike lawyers, we don’t charge for emails or phone calls.

Why Use Family Mediation?

Dianne talks about the importance of understanding your options under Australian Family Law, and why Family dispute resolution should be your first port of call, once you have decided to separate.

As a dedicated Family Law Mediation practice, Bayside Mediation offers clients a different perspective on separation and divorce.

We are a real alternative to using solicitors when separating

We design a process that best suits our clients & their children’s needs.

What next? Contact us and as soon as one of our specialist FDR Practitioners is available, they will call you back to discuss all your options.

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We Specialise in Family Law Matters

Each team member is a qualified Family Dispute Resolutions Practitioner, registered with the Attorney General’s Department of Australia. In addition to their training and experience in mediation, they often have other qualifications in family law, corporate law, psychology and conflict management.

Child Access Arrangements

We help parents discuss all aspects of the care and wellbeing of children: schooling, bedtimes, pickups and drop offs, Christmas, birthdays, and guidelines to to establish consistency in parenting even when the parents are separated.

Child Inclusive Practice

We are a child focused resolution practice, following ‘World’s Best Practice’ for Child Inclusive Practice/Mediation, as we support children and help parents make better decisions.

High Conflict & Intervention Orders

Our practitioners have specialist training and experience in managing high conflict situations, or if there is an IVO in place. Our private family mediation practice is designed to provide Shuttle Mediation to help keep everyone safe.

Financial & Property Settlements

A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner from Bayside Mediation is trained to help you negotiate a settlement quickly, fairly and at a fraction of the cost of using solicitors.

Solicitor Assisted Mediations

For matters where a solicitor’s advice is needed, we facilitate your solicitor to attend your mediation with you.

60(I) Certificates

Should mediation fail, and your only recourse is to take your dispute to court, as registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners, we can issue a 60(I) Certificate allowing your matter to go to court.

Parenting Plans

A working document that acts as a blue print for separated couples. An agreement on how to co-parent. Our practitioners know the difficulties experienced by parents when trying to negotiate this document. We offer support, ideas and solutions for difficult problems.

Custody

How does shared custody work? In Australian law we use terms such as ‘access’ and ‘quality time spent with’ rather than ‘custody’. But no matter which term you use, we can help negotiate where children will live after you have separated.

Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)

A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) is registered by the Attorney General’s Department, and has training in Family Law and helping couples separate in a non-adversarial method. An FDRP is the only professional allowed to issue a 60(I) certificate.

Access for Very Young Children

As a child focused resolution practice, we have extensive experience helping parents of infants and very young children to organise access arrangements that put the child’s needs first.

Long Distance Mediations

While it is never easy when a couple chooses to separate, sometimes it is complicated by animosity, an IVO, or partners moving away. That’s why our family mediation practice offers Shuttle, Telephone and Video Mediations.

Consent Orders

As a private family mediation practice, we can help separated couples to formalise their property and financial settlements under consent orders, at a fraction of the cost of using solicitors.

Testimonials

I had one meeting with a solicitor and frankly, it scared me. It felt impersonal and a little too aggressive for me. I can’t thank Alina enough for making what was a very difficult period in my life much easier to deal with and more humane. She managed to diffuse an awkward and hostile situation where I had failed. She has cared for me every step of the way. I have come away from this process feeling very satisfied and optimistic about the future, knowing that the outcomes we achieved were extremely fair to both of us. If you need help in this area, look no further. Google Reviews

Kelly Cigognini

I have sent you a few clients recently and wanted to send you some positive feedback. The clients I have referred to you have felt heard, understood and supported (within reason) and I am grateful for your assistance.

Senior Associate C&T, LS Lawyers

Thank you Alina for today. You have no idea how much you have helped me so far. And I am sure it’s the same for Neethu, she probably don’t realise it yet. Thank you for being genuine and going out of your way to help us. Appreciate it. Worth every penny.

And thank god for choosing child inclusive program. Otherwise we wouldn’t have known the things we learned today about Aman. Anyways a big thank you. Jam

Jamsheed Ali

We thank you for your letter. Your comments in respect of the Husband are noted, and we are pleased to inform you that we have today received an offer of settlement from his lawyers — a positive step indeed. We thank you for your assistance in this matter and will certainly refer you to any of our clients who are seeking to attend mediation before attempting to reach agreement through legal means.

Rebecca

I didn’t know mediation existed until I was in the throws of a divorce. Even though I had lawyers, even they admitted that our mediation sessions drove the process far faster than the court system. Even if you think you are on the same page as your ex, Di and her team will be able to help you articulate your parenting plan and spot the potential issues. Her years of experience can guide you through the system. Do yourself a favour and use this channel rather than the legal one. Google Reviews

Michele Teague

Even though my situation is a very difficult one and we didn’t end up with a successful mediation, I found the process of mediation very helpful. I now understand how access and family law works; our mediator gave me some strategies for dealing with my ex and in the end, I know I have done all I can for my kids.

Sam

Dianne worked with us to sort through what was important and helped us put together a Parenting Plan that we both agreed with. It wasn’t easy and we both had to compromise; but in the end, we have an agreement that puts our children’s needs first. Thank you so much

Tracey

Dianne is warm and approachable. She is thoroughly professional and fantastic at “de-jargonising” all aspects of the law which apply to property settlement, ensuring that both parties are reassured with a full understanding of the process. She has a gift for making sure each party feels heard in a safe, unbiased arena and keeping negotiations on track.

Faye

Bayside Mediation | Child Focused, Child Inclusive Mediation
Phone : +61 3 9553 6491 | 539 Highett Rd, Highett VIC 3190

Located in Highett, Bayside Mediation service clients throughout Bayside Melbourne, including but not limited to Melbourne CBD, St Kilda, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Mt Eliza, Mornington, San Remo, and the Mornington Peninsula

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Google Rating

4.5

Based on 35 reviews

Bayside Mediation

4.5

Casey Wells

08:27 09 Nov 21

After years of mediation and 2 unhappy children, I was in need of a child focused service. A friend referred to me Angela and I couldn'tbe more grateful. Angela listened to my concerns, was relatable, open and she gave me excellent direction. I highly recommend Bayside Mediation. Thank you 🙏

05:24 27 Oct 21

I'm glad we took advantage of the mediation services offered by Bayside Mediation. The overall process went very smoothly and was completely stress-free.A special thanks to Romani Benjamin, who assisted us in reaching an agreement in less than three hours for a matter that had been unresolved for the past two years.Romani Benjamin is a wonderful woman with a wealth of knowledge who is easy to talk to, fair, and compassionate towards her clients.Thank you so much for your assistance, and best wishes for the coming year.

Modina Monaf

09:09 23 Jul 21

Dianne and Alina are two incredibly caring and knowledgeable people who guided me through a difficult time with empathy and understanding.They were impartial and at all times supported both myself and my ex through very difficult sessions. They made me us both do our homework so we could each make informed decisions. They helped with resources, (I had no idea what I was doing or what I was legally entitled to) and gave practical advice.Dianne’s mediation experience together with Alina’s legal expertise meant that I felt empowered to negotiate, and the outcome was fair to both sides. I learnt so much in the process, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Dee Robinson

02:37 22 Jul 21

Romanis help through Mediation regarding separation and settlement was so very helpful. Thanks to Romani and Bayside Mediation. Doing great work! Such an important service for the Community.

Jay O

02:38 02 Jul 21

Before starting down this path, I had not heard of mediation as a way to approach our separation but right from the very first phone call, Alina won my confidence in her ability to shepherd my ex and me through the minefield of separation.Alina has a unique talent to connect with both parties in the separation and takes a practical and pragmatic approach to the challenges that separation presents.Thank you for helping us through this process Alina - you made a difficult situation feel effortless and we felt very supported the whole way through.

Paul Nicholls

19:34 22 Feb 21

Walking in to the office with cloudy thoughtswalked out with clear direction.Amazing Team, quick results, very transparantThank you so much Dianne

Michael McCulloch

16:27 25 Sep 20

Guidance and advice was great during a difficult time.

natalie reid

03:51 11 Aug 20

Alina helped us to navigate and successful reach agreement on property settlement. She showed compassion but was also firm with both parties when needed. I’m very thankful that she was able to bring about agreement as there is no way we could have done this without her. I would happily recommend Alina to other couples seeking meditation, or even those wondering if mediation could would work for them.

aaron fordham

19:44 06 Aug 20

Debra Tasevski

07:30 29 Jul 20

Kelly Cigognini

04:10 17 Jul 20

I had one meeting with a solicitor and frankly, it scared me. It felt impersonal and a little too aggressive for me. I can't thank Alina enough for making what was a very difficult period in my life much easier to deal with and more humane. She managed to diffuse an awkward and hostile situation where I had failed. She has cared for me every step of the way. I have come away from this process feeling very satisfied and optimistic about the future, knowing that the outcomes we achieved were extremely fair to both of us. If you need help in this area, look no further.

Matthew Lambert

12:27 21 Jun 20

I really appreciate Alina's guidance, professionalism and diplomacy. It's not an easy process, but Alina has a way of cutting through and simplifying things.

Jurgen Gehrer

07:15 11 Jun 20

The ladies at Bayside Mediation made a traumatic meeting, an not so traumatic experience.Thank you bothRegards Jürgen Gehrer

Michele Teague

07:33 28 May 20

Emily Zhang

01:14 06 Mar 20

Although this is the first experience I have had with any kind of family mediation. I have found the experience and Dianne's professionalism (yet empathetic approach) to be of moral and high standards. Through Dianne's professional guidance and specialised nous, we were able to arrive at a parental plan which was considerate to both parties, and most importantly - in the optimal interest of our very young child.Dianne is diligent in the care and advice she provides Highly recommend her services - and the hard work she has cut out for her, negating individual and unique circumstances.

Jodie Marsh

11:31 20 Sep 19

Dianne tried her hardest to get my nasty ex across the line, it ended up 12 months after the court finally convinced him of what the result we had already come to with Dianne. Dianne was nothing but understanding, caring and also informative and I appreciate all I did with her and all she did for me x

Alex Greer

09:55 10 Sep 19

Alina was fantastic and could not have been better. She takes the time to listen and shows genuine professionalism. A+

Jodie Mazzini

05:08 21 Aug 19

I recommended a friend who was in need of financial mediation and she was greatly helped by Dianne who has a wealth of knowledge and experience and made the whole process much smoother.

Jamsheed Ali

09:38 19 Jul 19

Thank you Alina.You have no idea how much you have helped me. And I am sure its the same for my wife, she probably doesn't realise it yet.Thank you for being genuine and going out of your way to help us.Appreciate it. Worth every penny.And thank you so much for suggesting to opt for child inclusive program. Otherwise we wouldn't have known the things we learned about our son.A big thank you. Keep doing what you do.

Kylie Prestwich

08:16 14 Jul 19

Welcomed with kindness, understanding and genuine care for all to work to an amicable agreement where children are included. Couldn’t recommend this service highly enough and could not be more grateful for the time and attention to individual needs.

Fiona Tibballs

01:35 28 Jun 19

Bayside mediation made the process of agreeing how to separate our assets as pain free as possible. Highly recommend.

denise Wale

06:36 21 Jun 19

Much appreciation for a tough job, WELL DONE Alina K!

Sinead O'Neill

18:38 27 Jan 19

Its worth every cent, speaking with Alina to make a scheduled roster for the shared care of our children was not an easy process but thanks to the help if a professional mediator we could finally come to an agreement.Definitely recommended if you can afford it over the public system.... and if you cant start saving. What price would you put on your mental and physical well being?

Cathryn Thomas

10:29 20 Jan 19

I would give Alina 10 stars if I could. Availability is made to suit both parties at all times and communication is always open. She has helped me through the toughest time in my life for my family and I only wish I had of found her sooner.

Jane Garber-Rosenzweig

04:25 08 Jan 19

Lana Zaprudsky

23:28 07 Jan 19

Milla Borovik

22:23 07 Jan 19

Inga Jackowska

04:55 06 Jan 19

Diane was fantastic, She was very efficient and communicated regularly with progress.Diane did an amazing job at bringing my partner and his children back together after 2 and a half years and he is forever grateful.We highly recommend Bayside Mediation and Diane as she worked hard to achieve the overall outcome.

Barbara Lach

05:47 13 Dec 18

leoni eagles

12:53 13 Oct 18

Ben Filliponi

12:52 13 Oct 18

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