A Lawyer and a Mediator Walk into a Bar

Christmas can be a beautiful time for children but for separated parents, it often comes with pressure, logistics, and emotions running high. In this episode, Dianne and Alina break down a simple, child-focused approach to planning Christmas Day so the holiday stays joyful, predictable, and low-conflict.We explore the three key steps every separated parent should follow to create a smooth shared-care Christmas, whether you’ve been co-parenting for years or this is your first festive season apart.In this episode we cover:Step 1: Don’t assume anythingWhy Christmas arrangements must be confirmed early, written clearly, and revisited, even if they’ve been the same for years.Step 2: Be on timeHow punctuality affects children emotionally, why being late can derail the other parent’s day, and how to manage transitions with care.Step 3: Stay out of conflictKeeping tension away from the kids, creating a positive environment, and planning a separate celebration if it’s not your year.We also talk through how different age groups experience shared care on Christmas Day, from toddlers to teens and what parents can do to support them emotionally through transitions.Whether you share the day, alternate years, or are navigating blended families, these three steps will help you create a calmer, more connected Christmas for your children.For more tips and guides on navigating shared care, visit:Stress-Free Shared Care Christmas: 3 Tips for Separated Parents (baysidemediation.com.au)

When families separate, kids feel every ripple.In this three-part series, Bayside Mediation’s Principal Mediator Dianne Loveday and Alina Kleiman, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, unpack how to support children through one of life’s biggest changes — separation and divorce.Across these conversations, they explore how to:Help children manage emotions and understand what’s happening in age-appropriate waysKeep adult conversations private and protect kids from conflictCommunicate calmly and co-parent with empathy (even when it’s tough)Rebuild stability, create new routines, and support children’s emotional growthWhether you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families through transition, this series offers practical, compassionate advice to help protect little hearts in big moments.For more resources or to connect with the team, visit Bayside Mediation - FDR & Family Mediation - Separate SmarterCall Us: 03 95536491

When families separate, kids feel every ripple.In this three-part series, Bayside Mediation’s Principal Mediator Dianne Loveday and Alina Kleiman, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, unpack how to support children through one of life’s biggest changes — separation and divorce.Across these conversations, they explore how to:Help children manage emotions and understand what’s happening in age-appropriate waysKeep adult conversations private and protect kids from conflictCommunicate calmly and co-parent with empathy (even when it’s tough)Rebuild stability, create new routines, and support children’s emotional growthWhether you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families through transition, this series offers practical, compassionate advice to help protect little hearts in big moments.For more resources or to connect with the team, visit Bayside Mediation - FDR & Family Mediation - Separate SmarterCall Us: 03 95536491

In this weeks episode, Dianne and Paula unpack the often-overlooked differences between engaging in mediation through private practice versus government funded family dispute resolution. While the core principles of mediation remain consistent, confidentiality, neutrality, and the assurance that what’s said can’t later be used against you in court the path to the table and the environment in which those conversations unfold can look very different.From the role lawyers play, to the accessibility and structure, the episode explores the nuances that shape people’s experiences in mediation. Dianne and Paula break down the practical realities, highlighting that family dispute resolution isn’t black and white, it’s a process influenced by context, approach, and the space in which families try to resolve conflict.

Paula’s still in Tonga, and this week’s episode is for the animal lovers. 🐾With recent changes to Australia’s Family Law Act, companion animals, from dogs and cats to birds, bunnies, and beyond are getting new legal recognition in separation. Paula and Dianne unpack what the law now says, how to navigate disputes with compassion, and why pets deserve more than just a property label.

In this episode, Paula dials in from Tonga, where she’s currently on secondment helping to establish a new family law service. She and Dianne explore the latest changes to Australia’s Family Law Act, with a focus on one of the most significant updates: the formal introduction of a duty of disclosure.For the first time, the legislation places a clear obligation on practitioners to inform clients of their responsibility to disclose financial and other relevant information during separation. Paula and Dianne break down what this means in real terms, why it’s so important, and how it aims to create more transparent, equitable outcomes.Whether you're a family law professional or someone navigating the system, this episode offers practical insights and just a little island breeze. 🏝️

In this episode, Paula joins Dianne from her secondment in Tonga, where she’s helping to set up a new women's and children's legal service. Together, they unpack the significant June 2025 changes to Australia’s Family Law Act with a focus on how financial and property matters are set to shift during relationship breakdowns.Whether you're a legal professional or navigating family law personally, this episode brings clarity, practical insight and a little island breeze. 🏝️

Dianne and Alina explore a commonly misunderstood fact, mediation can still be an option even when a Family Violence Order (FVO) is in place. With appropriate safeguards, Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) can proceed safely and respectfully, helping families make parenting arrangements that prioritise the child’s best interests. While the presence of a protection order signals risk, it doesn’t automatically exclude FDR, especially when the law encourages meaningful, safe contact between children and both parents. This episode wraps up the series by highlighting how even in complex situations, mediation remains a valuable, structured path forward.