WHAT IS MEDIATION

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process that helps people resolve disputes through structured conversation, guided by a trained and neutral third party known as a mediator. It’s not therapy. It’s not court. It’s a practical, solution-focused approach that gives everyone involved a chance to be heard, understood, and involved in building an outcome that works for them.

Unlike court battles, where outcomes are imposed, mediation empowers people to take control of their own decisions—especially important in emotionally charged matters like divorce, family breakdowns, or communication breakdowns between parents and teens.

How Mediation helps families

Family dynamics are complex. Emotions run high, misunderstandings are common, and sometimes the people we love most are the ones we clash with the hardest. Mediation gives families a safe space to address conflict head-on—with respect and without blame.

While I am an accredited divorce and family mediator, I am not currently practising in a private capacity. Instead, I choose to use my mediation skills where they matter most—within Rise Against Domestic Violence SA, the organisation I founded as a survivor, for survivors.

I have a deep passion for conflict resolution, particularly when it comes to helping families navigate the emotional chaos that often follows abuse, separation, or trauma. Through Rise, I use my training and experience to guide survivors and families through difficult conversations, reduce conflict, and help them find workable, realistic solutions—especially when children are involved.

My focus isn’t just legal—it’s human. Survivors are often silenced, dismissed, or dragged through draining processes that only add to the trauma. I step in to advocate for fairness and clarity and helping co-parents communicate better, or simply being a voice of calm when everything feels out of control.

At Rise, mediation isn’t about fancy titles or sitting in an office. It’s about impact. It’s about giving survivors the support and skills they need to move forward—with dignity, direction, and support that actually makes a difference.