Frequently Asked Questions

What is mediation?
Mediation is an alternative way of resolving a dispute where the parties sit down together and, guided by mediators, negotiate a practical and fair solution to their problem. It gives everyone the opportunity to tell their side of the story, define issues, consider options, and settle on a solution that suits them. Mediation is guided by experienced and professionally-qualified mediators. They’re impartial and don’t give any advice or make any decisions for the parties; they’re there to help parties focus on the best way forward.

If mediation is successful, the result is a mutual agreement that is written in the parties own words. This isn’t legally binding, but it can be used as a basis for court applications.

How does mediation work?
Once the parties have agreed to mediation, we’ll book a separate pre-mediation interview for each party. This is an opportunity for you to tell your side of the story without the other party there. It’s also a good time to ask any questions or raise any issues you’re unsure about. The mediator will explain how mediation works so you’re fully prepared.

After the pre-mediation interview, we’ll complete an assessment of suitability for mediation. If mediation proceeds, we'll book an appointment for the parties to attend this together, in the presence of our mediators. We use a co-mediation model with two mediators to make sure the process is balanced and unbiased.

How much does commercial mediation cost?
A commercial pre-mediation appointment costs $150 per party. A commercial mediation appointment costs $300 per party.

Types of commercial disputes we can help with:

• Small Business;
• Associations;
• Workplace;
• Facilitation; and
• Code of Conduct.