Child-Inclusive Dispute Resolution is a process in which a Child Expert works alongside a qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) to bring the child’s experience and needs to the forefront of the dispute resolution process.
At Child Expert Network, our role is to meet with the child and provide feedback to the FDRP and the parties about the child’s experience within the family. This feedback is designed to facilitate parental reflection about the child’s experience and views, the factors that may be influencing them, and what arrangements may support the child moving forward.
Child Inclusive Dispute Resolution is a confidential process. The Child Expert who conducts the consultation is not permitted to participate in any future court proceedings involving the same family, including preparing a Child Impact Assessment or Family Report.
The process begins with a referral from a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner or legal practitioner. The Child Expert and FDRP will then coordinate a suitable date for the Dispute Resolution Conference in consultation with the parties. Invoices are issued at this stage and must be paid in full before the child interview can proceed.
Only the intake form provided by the FDRP is read as part of this process. No other documents or background materials are reviewed.
The child is seen individually and in person, usually in the week leading up to the Dispute Resolution Conference. The parent who ordinarily has the care of the child at the time of the appointment should transport them to the meeting. The conversation explores the child’s experience within their family, their relationships, how they are coping with changes, and what they find helpful or challenging. Whilst children are encouraged to partake in the conversation, they are not pressured to speak or to share anything they are not comfortable discussing.
Support your mediation process with expert insights that honour your child’s voice and wellbeing.
