Family separation is one of the most stressful experiences a parent or former partner can face. The uncertainty around parenting arrangements, property matters and next steps often leads to worry, frustration and emotional fatigue. Family mediation provides a far more constructive way to move forward. It offers structure, support and space for conversations that help families settle disputes with clarity rather than conflict.
At Summit Conflict Resolution you work directly with Janelle Rollo, a Brisbane-based Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and family law mediator with more than twenty years of experience across family law, mediation and child-focused advocacy.
Janelle brings a warm, steady and practical approach to every session, understanding both the emotional impact of separation and the legal framework that surrounds it.
Guiding you to peaceful, compassionate resolutions
Our Family Mediation Services
At Summit Conflict Resolution we provide a full range of Brisbane family mediation services designed to support parenting, property and separation matters. Each service is tailored to the needs of the family and delivered with sensitivity, stability and professionalism.
Parenting
Mediation
Parenting mediation helps parents create clear and practical arrangements for their children. Conversations may involve day-to-day routines, school transitions, communication plans or longer-term decisions about a child’s wellbeing. The goal is always to keep children at the centre of the process while helping parents build a more predictable and peaceful path forward.
Child Custody
Mediations
Child custody mediation provides a structured environment where parents can discuss overnight care, transitions, safety considerations and the unique needs of each child. Janelle’s experience as an Independent Children’s Lawyer supports her child-focused approach. She understands how developmental stages, attachment needs, and family dynamics influence workable arrangements.
Separation
Mediation
Separation brings emotional uncertainty and ongoing practical challenges. Mediation helps former partners resolve property matters, financial issues and responsibilities that arise as they begin separate lives. It offers a foundation for respectful communication and long-term stability.
Why Choose Summit Conflict Resolution?
Choosing the right mediator is essential, as you need someone calm enough to hold difficult conversations and experienced enough to guide negotiations without judgment or pressure. Janelle brings a deep understanding of both the emotional and legal complexities that sit behind family disputes. Her background as a solicitor, mediator and Independent Children’s Lawyer gives her insight into what courts consider workable, what children need to feel safe, and what helps parents move through conflict with confidence.
Janelle gives parties space to be heard while ensuring conversations stay focused and respectful. And her knowledge of the Family Law Act 1975 helps parties understand how their decisions may be viewed if the matter ever progresses to formal orders.
How Family Mediation Works
Family mediation is designed to provide clarity and support at each stage. The process gives parties a safe environment and a clear roadmap for reaching workable agreements.
Intake and Screening
Before mediation begins, each party completes a separate intake session. This step allows Janelle to understand the background of the dispute, identify risks, and assess whether the matter is suitable for family mediation. Intake sessions also give each person the chance to ask questions in a private and calmer setting.
Preparation
Parties receive guidance on what to expect on the mediation day. This preparation helps everyone feel more comfortable and ensures the discussion focuses on the issues that matter most. When parents understand the structure of the mediation process, they participate with confidence and clarity.
Mediation Day
Families often feel calmer knowing they will not be placed together unless they request it. Most sessions occur with each party in a separate room or online space. This method reduces tension and allows each person to speak freely without feeling overwhelmed. Janelle moves between the rooms, guides the discussion, and ensures both sides feel heard and supported.
Reaching Agreement
When parties reach agreement, the outcomes can be documented and later formalised by their respective lawyers. Parenting agreements may be drafted as Parenting Plans or converted into Consent Orders. Property agreements may be formalised through Consent Orders or Binding Financial Agreements. Janelle’s experience ensures the agreements reached are realistic and capable of being accepted by the court if formalised later.
Why Family Mediation Works Better Than Court
Court proceedings are sometimes necessary but often create significant financial and emotional strain. Matters can take months or years to resolve and parents feel the weight of uncertainty while their children absorb the stress around them. Mediation offers a calmer, more cost-effective path that allows families to resolve disputes in a confidential environment without the pressure of litigation.
Mediation also protects long-term relationships. Former partners who are able to reach respectful agreements often find it easier to communicate later. This supports ongoing co-parenting and provides children with a more secure emotional environment.
Most importantly, mediation gives parents control. Rather than allowing a stranger to decide their arrangements, parents decide for themselves what will work for their family.
Example Family Mediation Scenarios
Parenting Arrangements After Separation
Parents often come to mediation needing to establish clear and workable arrangements for their children. This can include where children live, how time is shared, school transitions, holiday schedules, and communication between parents. Mediation provides a structured environment to develop practical agreements that support stability for children while allowing both parents to remain actively involved.Preparing for or Avoiding Court Proceedings
Some families attend mediation because it is required before filing for parenting orders, while others are seeking to avoid court entirely. In both cases, mediation helps clarify the issues in dispute, explore realistic outcomes, and often narrow or resolve matters before formal legal steps are taken.High Conflict or Communication Breakdown
In some matters, communication has broken down completely, or there is a high level of ongoing conflict. Mediation can still be effective in these situations through structured processes such as shuttle mediation, where parties remain separate. This allows discussions to move forward without direct confrontation, reducing emotional pressure and enabling clearer decision making.Disagreements About Schooling or Major Decisions
Even where general parenting arrangements are in place, disputes can arise around schooling, medical decisions, or extracurricular activities. Mediation allows parents to step back from conflict and focus on what is in the child’s best interests, working through options in a calm and supported setting.Family Mediation Costs in Brisbane
One of the most common questions families ask before starting mediation is how much the process costs. The cost of family mediation in Brisbane is typically far more cost effective than court proceedings, which can involve significant legal fees and long timeframes. Mediation allows families to work through parenting or financial disputes in a structured environment while retaining control over the outcome.
At Summit Conflict Resolution, mediation sessions are usually conducted as either half day or full day sessions depending on the complexity of the issues involved. Parenting disputes or property matters alone often begin with a half day mediation, while matters involving both parenting and financial issues may require a full day session.
Because every matter is different, the best way to understand potential costs is to review our detailed pricing information. You can learn more about session formats, hourly rates, and how mediation costs are typically shared between parties on our Cost page.
Experience and Qualifications You Can Trust
Janelle Rollo brings extensive experience in family law and mediation, including more than twenty years as a solicitor and fifteen years as a principal solicitor. Her work spans family law, domestic and family violence matters, criminal law, child protection and dispute resolution.
Her qualifications include:
- Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
- Accredited mediator with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Office
- Independent Children’s Lawyer appointed by Legal Aid Queensland
Her work with families across Brisbane and Australia is grounded in compassion and a genuine commitment to helping parents avoid the burden of litigation. She understands how overwhelming separation can be and she approaches each matter with the steady guidance families need.
Legal Framework for Family Mediation in Queensland
These requirements apply to families across Brisbane and Queensland.
Family mediation in Queensland operates within the framework of Australian family law. In many parenting disputes, parties are required to attempt Family Dispute Resolution before applying to court. This requirement is established under the Family Law Act 1975, which encourages families to resolve disputes through mediation wherever possible.
Before filing an application for parenting orders, parties will usually need to obtain a Section 60I Certificate from an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. This certificate confirms that mediation was attempted, that one party did not attend, or that the matter was assessed as unsuitable for mediation.
If mediation does not resolve the dispute, parties may proceed to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, which has jurisdiction over family law matters including parenting and property disputes. However, many families are able to reach agreement during mediation, allowing them to avoid the cost and stress of court proceedings while still formalising outcomes through Consent Orders or other legal agreements.
FAQs about Mediation
Do I have to attend mediation?
Under section 60I of the Family Law Act 1975, parents must attempt Family Dispute Resolution before filing an application for parenting orders unless an exemption applies. Urgency, domestic and family violence or other specific factors may allow parties to proceed without a mediation attempt. Property matters are not subject to this requirement, although courts often order mediation once proceedings begin.
How long does family mediation take?
The average time for family mediation in Australia can vary, but it generally ranges from a few hours to a few days.
Short mediations:
Some mediations, particularly for less complex matters, can be resolved in a single session lasting a few hour.
Typical mediation:
Many mediations take around 3-4 hours, especially when addressing multiple issues.
Longer mediations:
More complex cases, or those with multiple issues to resolve, may require multiple sessions or even extend over a few days.
Can I bring a lawyer to mediation?
Yes, you are always permitted to bring your lawyer to mediation. This can be helpful in supporting you during the mediation process to make practical decisions that are legally enforceable. Lawyers often greatly assist their clients in staying on track in the mediation and providing legal advice around the enforceability of agreements that are being discussed during the mediation process.
What happens if Mediation fails?
Mediations that don’t reach a full resolution of disputes can then proceed to Court by filing an Initiating Application in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. In Janelle’s experience, even if your dispute doesn’t fully resolve, Mediation significantly reduces the issues in dispute.
Can a mediation agreement become legally binding?
Yes. Agreements can be converted into Consent Orders or formalised into a Binding Financial Agreement. Once sealed by the court, Consent Orders become enforceable.
Do you offer child custody mediation?
Yes. Parenting and child custody mediation forms a significant part of our work. Sessions focus on the child’s developmental needs, safety, stability and wellbeing.
Can you issue a section 60I certificate?
As a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Janelle can issue a section 60I certificate when required.
Is mediation confidential?
Mediation is strictly confidential. Nothing discussed can be disclosed without all parties’ written consent.
Do you offer online mediation?
Yes. Online mediation is available for families across Brisbane and throughout Australia.
Is family mediation compulsory in Brisbane?
How much does family mediation cost in Brisbane?
The cost of mediation depends on the complexity of the dispute and the length of the session. Many matters begin with a half day mediation, while more complex matters may require a full day. You can review detailed pricing on our Cost page.
How long does mediation usually take in Brisbane?
What happens if family mediation does not resolve the dispute?
If mediation does not result in full agreement, the mediator may issue a Section 60I Certificate which allows parties to apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Partial agreements reached during mediation can still reduce the scope of any future court proceedings.
Contact Us
Separation is challenging, but the path forward does not need to be overwhelming. Family mediation provides clarity, stability and an opportunity to make thoughtful decisions with support.
Summit Conflict Resolution helps Brisbane families resolve disputes with compassion and professionalism, creating space for realistic agreements that support long-term wellbeing.