Parenting Coordination
Parenting Co-ordination is a child centered process for conflicted parents and a pathway to dispute resolution to help parents suitably make the necessary arrangements for their ongoing parenting before, during and after they have reached their final Court Orders. It aims to assist you and the other parent or caregiver in transitioning from being former partners in dispute to becoming effective co-parents, to focus on your children’s needs, rather than your anger towards each other.
What is Parenting Coordination?
Parenting Coordination is an alternative dispute resolution process focused on your children and where parents are in high conflict post-separation and divorce.
The goal of Parenting Coordination is to assist parents or caregivers to transition from being former partners in dispute to becoming effective co-parents, to focus on your children’s needs rather than your anger towards each other.
This can be achieved through various methods, including education about appropriate post-communication strategies, assistance with communication and managing disagreements.
Parenting coordination can assist in case managing parenting disputes after orders have been made, rather than you returning to the Family Court to deal with breaches of orders or contravention applications.
Parenting Coordinators are typically mental health or legal professionals with additional training in child development, family systems, domestic violence, mediation and arbitration.
“Sometimes it is better to have 2 happy homes where your children can enjoy and grow their relatonship with their parents independantly, rather than one sad home where no-one really flouishes or smiles.”
— Josephine Byrnes-Luna
What are some of the benefits of Parenting Coordination?
Enhancing the child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Reduces the harmful effects of conflict, which can threaten the well-being and future outcomes of your children
Improved Parent and Child Communication
Increasing the likelihood of keeping two active parents in the child’s life
Works to gain a better understanding of healthy boundaries and family patterns and dynamics;
Enhanced communication and working together
Improved problem solving
Reduced conflict and better anger management skills
Educating parents on the impact of parental conflict on their child’s development.
Overall reducing stress for children as the parental conflict decreases and the home atmosphere can be more relaxed.
Working with parents in developing parenting plans.
Reducing overall conflict experienced by the entire family.
Assists parents in resolving disputes outside of the family law courts, reducing often expensive legal fees
Reduces the likelihood of future contravention applications by dealing with misunderstandings and gaining further clarity in Orders or parenting plans
How is a Parenting Coordinator Appointed?
A Parenting Coordinator can be appointed by a Judge on Application, or by parents in a Parenting Plan or Consent Order. Below are some informative links about Parenting Coordination.
“If Matt and I had a great relationship, we would still be together, but we chose to move on because we had different visions of how we wanted to live our lives. That doesn’t mean, though, that we can’t rebuild something that would be the best thing for the kids.”
— Kate Hudson