Real people. Real resolutions.
Family, workplace and later-life disputes, worked through with a neutral mediator instead of a courtroom. Online anywhere in Australia, at your workplace, or at our rooms in Canberra.
Pick the one that sounds like your situation. It takes you straight to the people and the process built for it.
A contested matter in court can run for years, costs both sides a great deal, sits on the public record, and ends with a judge deciding what happens to your children, your business or your parent's care.
Mediation takes the same dispute and works it through in a private room, usually over weeks. It costs a fraction of litigating. The agreement is yours, made by the people it affects, which is also why people tend to stick to it.
How the process worksWhat is discussed in mediation stays in mediation, not on any public record.
The process is structured to move parties toward workable next steps.
Our mediators don't take sides, they facilitate a fair process for all parties.
Mediation works because of the people in the room. Here's who you'll be working with. Our mediators are accredited under AMDRAS, and our Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners are registered with the Attorney-General's Department, which is what authorises a section 60I certificate to be issued.
Chief Executive Officer
Anthony is an AMDRAS-accredited mediator and a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. His background in education, training and dispute resolution shapes a simple view: mediation should be practical and accessible, a real alternative to the cost and delay of the courts. He sets the direction for Alternative Mediations and works closely with legal, government and community partners across Australia.
Read Anthony's full bio →
Director / Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
Fay is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, so separated parents work with someone qualified in the process the Family Law Act asks them to try first. Alongside English, she is fluent in Dari, Farsi, Tajiki and Hazaragi, and can run a full mediation session in any of these languages for families who'd rather work through difficult conversations in the language they think and feel in.
Read Fay's full bio →
CFO / Business Manager
Alongside English, Javid is also fluent in Dari, Farsi, Tajiki and Hazaragi, and can run a full mediation session in any of these languages, meeting families in their own language at a difficult time, if that's what they'd prefer.
Read Javid's full bio →Every mediation is different, but the setting is always the same: calm, private and focused on people talking, not being talked at.
Three service areas, nine specialist services. Structured, confidential mediation for families, workplaces and businesses across Australia.
Supporting families through separation and beyond.
FDR is a structured, confidential process that helps separated parents work through parenting arrangements, communication and child-focused decisions without going to court. A qualified FDRP facilitates a safe space where both parents can be heard.
This process is required by the Family Law Act in most parenting disputes before an application can be made to court.
View Service DetailsHelping separated couples or property co-owners resolve disputes about the division of assets and property arrangements without the cost and delay of court proceedings.
Learn moreOngoing support for separated parents who have parenting arrangements in place but continue to experience conflict or communication difficulties in day-to-day co-parenting.
Learn moreA safe, child-focused environment where children can spend time with a parent or family member under the guidance of a trained professional when safety or conflict concerns are present.
Learn moreResolving conflict in business and at work.
Professional mediation for business owners, partners, clients and commercial parties who need to resolve disputes before they become more costly, damaging or difficult to unwind. Faster and more cost-effective than litigation, with both parties retaining control of the outcome.
Our commercially-experienced mediators facilitate structured discussions to help identify workable solutions and protect the possibility of an ongoing business relationship.
View Service DetailsSupporting employers, employees and teams to resolve workplace conflict, communication breakdowns and interpersonal disputes with professionalism and discretion.
Learn moreConfidential support for employees facing personal or professional challenges, including relationship breakdown, workplace conflict, stress and career uncertainty.
Learn moreCareer counselling for individuals experiencing life transitions, helping people gain clarity, rebuild confidence and take practical steps toward a more stable future.
Learn moreCompassionate support for families navigating later-life decisions.
Sensitive mediation for families navigating important conversations around ageing parents, care decisions, living arrangements and family responsibilities. Our mediators create a respectful space where the older person's voice remains central throughout.
These are some of life's most emotionally complex conversations. Elder mediation brings structure and neutrality to them, helping families stay connected and make decisions together with care and clarity.
View Service DetailsThese situations come up often. If any feel familiar, a confidential conversation with us costs nothing and carries no obligation.
Direct conversation feels impossible, unproductive or too emotionally charged to manage without support.
Important decisions about children, property, finances or work are stalling because agreement can't be reached.
Children, staff, family or business relationships are suffering as a result of an unresolved dispute.
Both sides are entrenched and need someone neutral to help facilitate a productive conversation.
Without intervention, the dispute may move to formal proceedings, which are costly, slow and stressful for everyone.
Not necessarily a perfect resolution, but a clearer picture of options and a concrete next step.
Many people come to mediation having never experienced it. We explain each step before you take it, so you always know what to expect.
A brief, confidential conversation, by phone or online, to understand your situation and whether mediation may be suitable.
We speak individually with each party to understand their perspective and confirm mediation is appropriate for the circumstances.
Both parties are briefed on the process, their role and what to expect before the joint session takes place.
A structured, facilitated conversation, in person or online, where issues are explored and practical options are considered.
Where an agreement is reached it can be documented. We help you understand your options and any next steps at the conclusion.
Three plain-English guides written by our director Fay Alizai. Each one walks through who the service is for, how it works step by step, and what the law requires. Download the one that fits your situation.
How Family Dispute Resolution works, what a section 60I certificate is, and why most parents find this route better than court.
Get the free guide
What supervised contact is, who it is for, and what happens at each stage, written for the parents living through it.
Get the free guide
Who workplace mediation is for, how the process works, and why it often produces better outcomes than escalation.
Get the free guideIf you're new to mediation, it's natural to have questions. Here are the ones we hear most often.
Mediation is a structured, voluntary process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps two or more people communicate, explore options and work toward a practical agreement. The mediator doesn't make decisions. That remains entirely with the parties involved.
Yes. Mediation is a confidential process. What is discussed in sessions is generally not admissible in court and is not placed on any public record. Confidentiality gives people the freedom to speak openly and explore options without fear of repercussion. There are limited exceptions where disclosure is required by law.
You do not need a lawyer to participate in mediation. However, for some matters, particularly property or commercial disputes, you may wish to obtain independent legal advice before or after your session. We recommend this where appropriate but we do not provide legal advice ourselves.
Your first contact is a brief, confidential conversation where we learn about your situation, explain how mediation works and discuss whether it may be a suitable option. There is no pressure to proceed and no obligation.
No. Mediation is a voluntary process and outcomes are not guaranteed. Some mediations reach a full agreement; others result in partial progress or identify practical next steps. Even where a complete agreement is not reached, the process often represents meaningful progress, issues clarified, communication improved, options understood.
Three ways, whichever suits the people involved. Online by secure video, which is how most of our work is done and why we can act for people anywhere in Australia, including on Microsoft Teams if that is what your organisation already uses. At your workplace, or neutral rooms nearby, for workplace and commercial matters. Or at our rooms at 2/21 Albany Street, Fyshwick, in Canberra.
No. Alternative Mediations does not provide legal advice. The information on this website and in our consultations is general in nature. For legal advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a qualified legal practitioner.
If you are dealing with a difficult conversation or unresolved dispute, a confidential consultation can help you understand whether mediation is suitable, with no pressure and no obligation.