Family Court Mediation Service set up

1/10/95

The Family Court of Western Australia has set up a pilot mediation service aimed at speedier, cheaper and more satisfactory settlement of cases involving children and property matters.

Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes said the Family Court Mediation Service was designed to give people an alternative to going to court.

"This service means people can settle their differences without going through the costly expense - both financial and emotional - of litigation," Mrs Edwardes said.

"In the past, if couples could not agree, they had no alternative but to have the Family Court resolve the issue.

"This program provides an alternative to court adjudication."

Mrs Edwardes said the main aim of the service was to come up with a settlement that suited people, and was developed by the couple in dispute.

With mediation, people felt they were in control of their lives as they sat down and talked through the disputed issues with the mediator.

"People who have used the service say they feel like they have taken a greater part in resolving their dispute," Mrs Edwardes said.

"A settlement has not been imposed on them, so they more readily accept the outcome. Many feel that when they end up in court, somebody loses."

The 12-month pilot project started in July with a team of four mediators operating from the Perth Family Court.

A person can request mediation before proceedings are commenced, or the court can order mediation after proceedings have begun.

The mediators often meet with couples over a number of sessions before agreement is reached.

The Attorney General commended the Family Court on the initiative and encouraged separating couples to make use of mediation to resolve their family disputes.

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 421 7777