A better way to separate.

Supported, safe and confidential mediation to help you make decisions about parenting, property and finances – without going straight to lawyers or letting things escalate.

  • Reduce conflict and stress
  • Faster and more affordable than legal pathways
  • Save on legal fees and court delays
  • Stay in control of your own agreements
  • Support for standard and high-conflict situations

No obligation. Just clear information about your options.

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Juliette L
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Bayside mediation was a positive and professional experience even though it was an emotional and difficult time. Dianne was exceptional, knowledgeable and empathetic. She put me at ease from our first meeting. I am more than grateful to her and Alina who worked extremely hard to achieve an acceptable outcome. Brilliant team work by these two amazing ladies. Dianne I know you went above and beyond. Thank you.
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Erik n
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Very professional company that goes well above and beyond. Dianne is great to deal with, as is the rest of the staff. Understanding, caring and supportive!!
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Alicia L
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Alina is a very honest mediator, she care for her client for their family genuinely.
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Jean L
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Thank you Dianne and Alina for resolving our complex mediation in a fair and professional process. My advice to your potential clients is to avoid lawyers at all costs if possible. I paid a heavy legal price and was amazed at their costing and revenue structure designed to maximise profits at every opportunity. Phone calls, emails, even asking you for some information came at cost of $45 each. Unwarranted and unwanted conversations was billed exorbitantly as legal advice. Mediation is the most cost effective way to resolve issues, especially financial separations and division of assets. Pay attention of lawyers per hour rates compared to the costs of mediation. Stay alert, ask questions and maintain control of your costs. I strongly recommend Bayside Mediation if you want a fair, open, cost effective and transparent process to resolve your personal or family issues. Lawyers and Courts is an option that should be avoided at all costs, if possible. At least speak to Bayside Mediation and weigh up your options. They cannot take sides and they operate legally but without the exorbitant fees, hidden charges and costs. Think and be alert before being caught out by the legal trap. Your assets and money belongs in your pocket because stress and vulnerability can lead to making bad choices.depleting you legally !
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Dean M
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I would like to thank Alina and the team at Bayside mediation for the professionalism and willinginess to support in challenging circumstances. Alina specifically went above and beyod to work to try get stakeholders to the table and her commitment went well beyond just being a facilitor but rather being a figure that can assist to coax stakeholders through apprehension to the table.
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Fatima J
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I want to give a big thanks to Tess, who helped me a lot through my divorce. I went to see her twice, and since then if I had any follow up questions I could text or call her and get a fast answer. She listens to me patiently and always gives a helpful answer. I would recommend Tess’ services to anyone who needs it.
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Jeffrey t
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I had the need to enquire how the mediation process worked. Alina explained the process to me such that it gave me confidence to get my partner involved. I'm happy that it worked so well for both my partner and myself. Excellent support service from Alina. Anonymous
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Jeni J
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I was initially quite hesitant about my appointment, having had a bad experience with a different mediation group many years ago. On meeting Dianne, those fears were alleviated. She was compassionate and genuinely focused on helping us reach the best possible outcome for us all. Her consistent availability via phone and email, along with her honest and objective guidance, provided incredible support throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Bayside and Dianne to anyone seeking mediation services. Thank you Dianne and team.

Why start with mediation before lawyers?

Separation is stressful enough without adding a full legal battle on top. Many couples are surprised at how quickly legal fees and conflict escalate once court becomes the main pathway.

Mediation gives you a different approach.

With mediation, you can:

  • Talk it out in a structured, neutral and calm environment with an accredited FDR practitioner
  • Focus on solutions, not blame
  • Reach parenting and property agreements faster
  • Save significant money on legal fees and court costs
  • Keep decisions in your hands, instead of leaving it all to a judge

You can still get legal advise at any time – but mediation helps you lay the groundwork first.

Support with high-conflict or narcissistic behaviour

When every conversation ends in an argument, it can feel impossible to move forward.

If you’re dealing with:

  • gaslighting or manipulation
  • stonewalling or refusal to engage
  • controlling or intimidating behaviour
  • emotionally draining conflict

you don’t have to manage it alone.

Our mediators are trained to work with high-conflict situations and can provide:

  • a structured, neutral space for discussions
  • clear ground rules and boundaries
  • a focus on safety, emotional wellbeing and practical outcomes
  • child-focused decision-making, even when communication is difficult

We’re not here to diagnose anyone. We’re here to help you navigate a complex situation as safely and calmly as possible.

Separating? Want to avoid using lawyers?

FDR Mediation offers a legal alternative to engaging lawyers.

Many couples separating today want to keep things respectful, private and cost-effective. They don’t want a court battle; they just want a clear agreement they both feel is fair.

Mediation offers you a practical alternative to hiring lawyers as your first step. It helps you work through decisions such as:

  • How to divide property and assets
  • What to do with the family home
  • How to approach superannuation and finances
  • Future arrangements that support each of you moving forward

All in a neutral, structured environment designed to reduce stress and avoid unnecessary legal fees.

Our accredited mediators guide you through the process so you can reach a workable agreement quickly and formalise documents.

If you’re looking for a supported, safe and straightforward way to separate, mediation can help you get there.

Keep your future - not just legal bills

Court proceedings and ongoing lawyer negotiations can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars – often before any real progress is made.

Mediation is designed to be:

  • More affordable than going straight to court
  • More efficient, with focused sessions and clear goals
  • Less adversarial, reducing stress for everyone involved


You’ll still have the option to involve lawyers or formalise agreements later, but mediation can drastically reduce how much you need to spend to get there.

“We wanted to split things fairly without giving it all to lawyers.”

– Mediation Client

That’s exactly what mediation is here to support.

Separation & Divorce Mediation Services

Child-focused parenting plans that actually work

Separation changes a lot-but your children still need stability, safety, and care from both parents.

Our mediation process is child-focused, which means we help you:

  • design parenting arrangements that consider your children’s routines and needs
  • reduce the conflict they’re exposed to
  • clarify communication around pick-ups, holidays and special occasions
  • plan for future changes as your children grow

Less conflict for you = more clam for them.

How mediation works at Bayside Mediation

You remain in control of decisions at every step. Our role is to guide the process, not to take sides.

Step 01

Free 30 Minute Consult

A confidential conversation to understand your situation and see whether mediation is suitable. We'll explain the process and anser your questions.

Step 02

Individual Intake Sessions

Each persion meets separately with the mediator. This allows you to share your concerns, history, and priorities in a safe, private setting.

Step 03

Joint Mediation Sessions

If appropriate, we bring you together (in person or online) to work through parenting, property and other issues in a structured, calm and neutral environment.

Step 04

Agreement & Next Steps

Once you reach an agreement, we can help record it in a written document (such as a parenting plan) and help formalise the agreement.

Our practitioners are qualified, recognised, industry experts

specialist family law mediators melbourne

About Bayside Mediation

Bayside Mediation is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution practice supporting separating couples and families across the Bayside suburbs and across Melbourne.

We specialise in:

• Parenting and co-parenting arrangements

• Negotiate and help formalise agreements for property and financial settlements

• High-conflict and complex separations and divorce

• Child-focused and trauma-aware practice

Our practitioners are accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners (FDRPs) and adhere to Australian standards and legislation around family law and mediation.

FAQS

Your mediation questions answered

No. Many people start with mediation and consult a lawyer before or after sessions as needed. You’re free to seek legal advice at any time.

We can still complete an intake and discuss your options. In some cases, FDR is required before going to court, and we may be able to issue a section 60I certificate if appropriate.

Your safety is our first priority. We’ll explore this in your intake session and decide whether mediation is suitable, and if so, how it can be structured (for example, shuttle mediation or online). In some cases, mediation is not appropriate, and we’ll discuss other options.

Costs depend on the type and number of sessions needed. We’ll explain fees clearly in your free consult so you can make an informed decision.

Yes. Online sessions can be a good option, especially for high-conflict situations or where distance is an issue.

Ready to explore a better way to separate?

Book a free, confidential consult to talk through your situation and see if mediation is right for you.

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