Terms of Service

About these terms

These Terms of Service govern your use of the onlinefdr.com.au website and your engagement with our Family Dispute Resolution services. By booking a session, submitting an enquiry, or using our website, you agree to these terms.

These terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions before booking, contact us at hello@onlinefdr.com.au or (03) 9961 7544.

Our services

onlinefdr.com.au provides accredited Family Dispute Resolution services conducted online via Google Meet. Our services include:

• Free discovery calls to assess whether FDR is appropriate for your circumstances
• Individual intake sessions (one hour per party)
• Joint mediation sessions (four hours for parenting matters, three hours for financial matters)
• Documentation of agreed terms
• Section 60I certificates where appropriate

Practitioners working under the onlinefdr.com.au brand hold current registration with the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department as accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners.

No outcome is guaranteed. FDR is a process for assisting parties to reach their own agreements. We do not guarantee that agreement will be reached, that a particular outcome will be achieved, or that any agreement reached will be honoured by the other party.

Section 60I certificates and Letters of Attendance. For parenting matters, Section 60I certificates are issued at the practitioner's professional discretion in accordance with section 60I(8) of the Family Law Act 1975 and Regulation 24 of the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025. The type of certificate (i.e. which paragraph of section 60I(8) applies) is determined by the practitioner's assessment of what occurred in the FDR process, including whether each party made a genuine effort and whether FDR was appropriate in the circumstances. The certificate type is not negotiable; parties cannot request a particular type. For financial matters, the practitioner issues a Letter of Attendance and Genuine Effort confirming the dates of attendance, the practitioner's assessment of whether each party made a genuine effort, and the outcome. The letter is supporting evidence the party can use in their own Genuine Steps Certificate, which is the certificate the party themselves signs and files under Schedule 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021.

Eligibility and suitability

FDR is not appropriate in all circumstances. As part of the intake process, we assess whether the matter is suitable for FDR. We reserve the right to decline to provide services, or to cease providing services, where we determine that FDR is not appropriate for the matter. This includes where:

• There are safety concerns for either party or any children involved
• A significant power imbalance exists that cannot be adequately managed in the process
• One party is unable to participate genuinely due to incapacity
• The matter requires urgent court intervention

Where we determine FDR is not appropriate, we will advise you and, where possible, point you toward appropriate alternatives.

Bookings and sessions

Sessions are booked through our online booking system (Google Appointment Scheduling). By making a booking, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms.

Discovery calls are free and non-binding. They do not constitute the commencement of a formal FDR process.

Intake sessions are conducted individually with each party. Both parties must complete an intake session before a joint session can be scheduled. The intake session is a required step in the FDR process and is not optional.

Joint sessions run for four hours for parenting matters and three hours for financial matters. Both parties must be available for the full duration. Arriving significantly late to a session may result in the session being rescheduled at the party's cost.

Sessions are conducted via Google Meet. Both parties are responsible for ensuring they have a suitable device, reliable internet connection, and a private space for the duration of the session.

Fees and payment

Our fees are confirmed at the time of booking. We do not publish fees on our website. Fees are discussed and confirmed during the discovery call and are fixed for the duration of your matter unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The discovery call is provided at no charge. Intake sessions and joint sessions are charged at the rates confirmed at the time of booking.

Where a matter requires additional sessions beyond those initially anticipated, each additional session is charged at the same rate as the initial sessions unless otherwise agreed.

Strict prepayment. Payment must be received at least 24 hours before the scheduled session, or the session is automatically cancelled. This applies to all intake and joint sessions.

Three-cancellation rule. Three non-payment cancellations of scheduled sessions terminates the engagement. The three-cancellation rule applies to the party causing the cancellations only. Where the engagement is terminated under this clause, any prepaid fees for sessions not yet held are refunded in full to the paying party. Where a party's repeated non-payment results in the matter not being able to proceed, a Section 60I certificate may be issued reflecting that the party did not make a genuine effort to resolve the dispute, in accordance with section 60I(8) of the Family Law Act.

Cancellation and rescheduling

Rescheduling before payment is due. If you need to reschedule a session, do so before the 24-hour prepayment deadline. Once payment has been made for a session, rescheduling is at the practitioner's discretion and subject to availability.

Non-attendance. Where a party does not attend a paid scheduled session without notice, the full session fee is forfeited. A Section 60I certificate reflecting non-attendance may be issued.

Practitioner cancellation. In the unlikely event that we need to cancel a session, we will provide as much notice as possible and reschedule at no additional cost to either party. Where rescheduling is not possible, fees paid for the cancelled session will be refunded.

Confidentiality and inadmissibility

FDR sessions are protected by two distinct legal provisions under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth):

• Confidentiality (s10H): The practitioner is statutorily prohibited from disclosing communications made during the FDR process, with limited exceptions. By agreeing to these Terms, both parties agree contractually to maintain the same confidentiality. The practitioner cannot be compelled to give evidence about what was said in sessions.
• Inadmissibility (s10J): Even if confidentiality is breached and something from FDR is disclosed, that information cannot be admitted as evidence in court proceedings. This protection operates independently of confidentiality and cannot be waived by a breach of it.

By participating in FDR, both parties agree to maintain confidentiality of the process and its content. Narrow exceptions apply as defined by the Family Law Act, including where disclosure is necessary to prevent harm to a child or another person.

Session notes made by the practitioner are their professional records and are not provided to either party unless required by law.

We are not your lawyers

onlinefdr.com.au provides Family Dispute Resolution services only. The practitioner acts as a neutral facilitator. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation, and engaging us does not create a solicitor-client relationship.

Specifically, the practitioner does not:

• Provide legal advice on your rights, obligations, or the merits of your matter
• Draft, file, or prepare legal documents on your behalf
• Appear in court or in any legal proceedings on your behalf
• Negotiate on a party's behalf, including with the other party, their lawyer, or any third party

Any documents produced during the FDR process (for example, a Parenting Plan or a record of issues discussed) are not legal advice and are not legally binding unless they are subsequently formalised through the appropriate legal process by you and the other party with your own independent advisors.

We strongly encourage both parties to obtain independent legal advice before, during, and after the FDR process, and before signing any agreement. Understanding your legal rights and obligations is essential to making informed decisions. The content on our website is provided for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice in your specific circumstances.

If you need legal advice, contact a family lawyer or Legal Aid in your state or territory.

Conduct during sessions

Both parties are expected to participate in sessions in good faith and to treat the practitioner and each other with respect. The practitioner may terminate a session, and may withdraw from the engagement under the section below on practitioner withdrawal, where:

• A party's conduct makes it impossible to continue the session productively
• A party makes threats or engages in abusive behaviour toward the practitioner or the other party
• Continuing the session would pose a risk to the safety of any person

Where a session is terminated due to a party's conduct, the full session fee remains payable by that party. A Section 60I certificate may be issued reflecting the circumstances of the termination.

Recording by parties. Sessions may not be recorded by either party without the prior written consent of the practitioner and the other party.

Recording by the practitioner. Intake sessions are audio-recorded by the practitioner with AI-assisted transcription for note-taking purposes. Joint sessions are not recorded. Each party's express consent will be sought before any intake recording begins, and refusal is accepted without prejudice to the engagement. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Conflicts of interest

The practitioner is required to act as a neutral and impartial facilitator. A conflict of interest arises where the practitioner has any relationship, interest, or association that could reasonably be perceived to affect their impartiality. This includes:

• A prior professional relationship with a party (for example, having previously provided services to one of the parties)
• Personal connections to a party (family, friendship, or other relationships of a personal nature)
• Close associates with a stake in the outcome of the matter
• Any other matter where the practitioner's professional judgement could reasonably be impaired

Where a conflict of interest is identified, the practitioner will disclose the conflict to all parties, withdraw from the matter, refund any fees paid for sessions not yet held, and where practical refer the parties to another accredited FDR practitioner.

Practitioner withdrawal

The practitioner reserves the right to withdraw from an engagement at their professional discretion. Reasons for withdrawal include:

• Bad faith or dishonesty by a party, including non-disclosure of material information
• Safety concerns relating to a party, a child, or the practitioner
• Practitioner incapacity
• A conflict of interest identified after the engagement has commenced
• Any other matter where continuing the engagement would breach the practitioner's professional or statutory obligations

Where the practitioner withdraws, fees paid for sessions not yet held will be refunded. Where appropriate, a Section 60I certificate will be issued reflecting the circumstances (for example, a certificate that a party did not make a genuine effort to resolve the dispute, or that FDR was not appropriate in the circumstances).

Limitation of liability

We carry professional indemnity insurance appropriate to our practice, as required of all accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners.

To the extent permitted by law, our liability to you in connection with our services is limited to the fees paid for the session or sessions to which the claim relates.

We are not liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss arising from your participation in FDR, including any loss arising from an outcome you are unhappy with, a breakdown in negotiations, or any decision made by either party in the course of or following the FDR process.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or guarantee you may have under Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified.

Website use

The content on onlinefdr.com.au is provided for general information purposes. While we take care to keep it accurate and current, we make no warranty as to its completeness or accuracy. The law changes, and content may not always reflect the most recent legal developments.

You must not use our website in any way that breaches any applicable law, infringes the rights of any person, or interferes with the operation of the site.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of our services are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, except where the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) or another Commonwealth law provides otherwise.

Contact

Questions about these terms can be directed to:

• Email: hello@onlinefdr.com.au
• Phone: (03) 9961 7544

These terms were last updated in May 2026. We may update them from time to time. Continued use of our services following any update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. The current version will always be available at this address.

Change log

Substantive changes to these Terms of Service are recorded here. Minor formatting or typographical corrections may be made without entry.

• May 2026 — Initial version. Terms of Service published at launch.