Child-Focused Mediation in 2025: How Family Law Reform is Reshaping Parenting Disputes in Victoria
In 2025, the way we resolve parenting disputes is changing - not just in law, but in practice. The Family Law Amendment Act 2024, which came into effect in June 2025, redefines how the legal system considers the needs of children during separation and divorce.
For Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) practitioners, these reforms are more than procedural updates. They represent a shift toward a more child-focused, holistic, and safety-conscious approach to resolving disputes between separated parents.
In this post, we explore how the law has changed, what it means for FDR services, and how mediators can better centre children’s voices in the work they do.
Measuring the Impact: Family Dispute Resolution Delivers a $20-for-$1 Benefit in Victoria
In a world of tightening budgets and stretched legal systems, Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) has proven itself not just as a humane alternative to court - but as a financially smart one.
Recent 2025 data from Relationships Australia and national FDR services show that for every $1 invested in community-based FDR, there’s up to $20 in economic and social return.
This post explores what’s behind that number, how it applies here in Victoria, and what it means for families navigating separation in a fair, sustainable, and cost-effective way.