Typical Agenda Items in Family Dispute Resolution
There are no restrictions on what issues can be brought to Family Dispute Resolution. If a particular issue is causing tension between the parents then children benefit if that tension can be eased. The following list of possible Agenda Items for Family Dispute Resolution is not exhaustive, but is provided by way of example. Some Agenda Items are listed as questions to be answered. Some as points of discussion.
Issues to do with "Living with" (note the term "living with" has replaced "custody")
- Which parent will the children live with? Or will it be substantially shared care?
- At what intervals will the living arrangement be reviewed?
Issues to do with "Spending time with" (note the term "spending time with" has replaced "access")
- What regular time will the child spend with the other parent?
- What holiday time will the child spend with the other parent?
- What special occasion time will the child spend with the other parent?
- What will be the drop off and pick up arrangements?
- If one parent or a child wishes to make a temporary change to this arrangement, how will that be communicated and negotiated?
Telephone, email and webcam communication between parent and children issues:
- On what days and at what times will telephone contact occur between the child and the parent that child is not residing with at the time?
- Will the parent ring the child or the child ring the parent?
- Will there be privacy for telephone calls?
- Will the parent that is physically with the child prompt the child prior to the call with the child's news to convey?
- To discuss protocols around parent-to-parent communication not being "piggy-backed" onto the children's calls and not being carried out through the children.
- To discuss not to questioning the children following telephone contact.
- What will be the protocols around the other parent-child communication (e.g. email and webcam communication)?
Parenting styles across the two homes:
- To discuss discipline in the two homes
- To discuss approaches to monitoring and assisting with homework
- To discuss diet, exercise, and time spent using electronic media
- To discuss rules e.g. access to M (or R)-rated material, what time to be home when going out in the evenings.
Code of conduct between parents:
- To discuss communication between parents - mode of communication (e.g. text, email); frequency of communication; time of communication; subject matter of communication
- To discuss how one parent talks to the child about the other parent and the other parent's new partner or family
- To discuss how a new partner might be introduced to the children and to the other parent and to discuss whether the new partner will attend events relating to the children
Miscellaneous:
- To discuss arrangements for a special birthday or event
- To discuss the possibility of one parent taking the children on an overseas holiday
- To discuss the possibility of one parent moving house
- To discuss an accident or other concerning incident involving a child
- To discuss a child's learning difficulties or problematic behaviors
- To discuss breaches of agreements.