The first question I’m often asked isn’t how does mediation work? Or will it actually help us?
It’s… how much does mediation cost, and can I afford it?
If that’s where you are right now, looking at the costs of separation and wondering how on earth you’re going to pay for mediation on top of everything else, I want you to know two things.
First, you’re not alone. This is the most common concern I hear from people in the early stages of a parenting or property dispute. Second, you’re not stuck. There are real, affordable options available in Australia, and there’s almost always a pathway that works.
Let me walk you through them.
1. Start with free or subsidised mediation services
Australia has a network of government-funded and community-based services that exist precisely to help families who can’t pay private rates.
Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) are funded by the Australian Government and provide Family Dispute Resolution for separating parents. Fees are based on your income. Low income families pay very little, and concession card holders may pay nothing at all.
You can find your nearest FRC by calling the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321 or following the link above.
Relationships Australia and similar community providers also offer mediation on a sliding scale. The catch with both services is that they often have wait times of months. If your matter is time-sensitive – for example, if you’re trying to settle holiday arrangements or get into final court hearings, wait times are worth considering.
2. Check if you qualify for Legal Aid
Legal Aid is often the first thing people think of when money is tight, so let me explain how it works.
Every state and territory has its own Legal Aid commission, and each one sets its own eligibility rules. Legal Aid NSW, Legal Aid Victoria, Legal Aid Queensland and the others are separate organisations.
What they have in common right now is funding pressure. The 2026–27 federal budget didn’t deliver the funding Legal Aid commissions across Australia had been asking for, and that’s flowing through to who they can help.
Legal Aid NSW has advised that, from 1 July 2026, representation in parenting and property matters is limited to victim-survivors of family and domestic violence and Aboriginal people.
Other states haven’t announced equivalent family law cuts yet, but they’re under the same pressure, and the rules in your state could shift over the next year or two.
In practical terms:
- If you’re escaping family or domestic violence, or are an Aboriginal person, Legal Aid in your state is one of your first calls.
- If you don’t fall into one of those groups, you may still be able to access free initial advice, referrals to community legal centres, and self-help resources.
Whatever your situation, check directly with the Legal Aid Commission in your state or territory before assuming you do or don’t qualify.
3. Choose a private mediator with a payment plan
At Kannen Mediation, we understand that cost is one of the biggest barriers to families resolving matters, and we have ways of working around it.
Our pricing is:
- Initial 15-minute discussion: free
- Intake session: $250 per person. This is a private, one-on-one session where I chat with you individually, assess your situation, screen for safety, and prepare you for the joint mediation session.
- Family Dispute Resolution session: $880 per person for a 3.5-hour joint mediation.
A Section 60I certificate is issued at no additional cost following mediation. If mediation does not proceed, the fee for issuing a Section 60I certificate is $150. Our price list has further information.
If paying the full amount upfront isn’t realistic for you, I can structure the cost over weeks or months leading up to your mediation. As an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, I’d rather help you reach a resolution on terms you can manage than have cost be the reason you don’t start.
If you’d like to know more before committing to anything, I offer a no-cost 15-minute consultation to talk through your situation. There’s no obligation, and no judgement about your finances. Book your consultation here.
4. Look at lower-cost mediation formats
Even within private mediation, there are ways to reduce what you pay:
- Online mediation: This is my preferred method of mediation in 2026. Online mediation is the most efficient, avoids travel time, and each party can join from their current location.
- Shuttle mediation: Parties in separate rooms with the mediator moving between them. Can resolve matters in fewer hours when communication has broken down.
- Focused half-day sessions: Well-suited to matters where the issues are clear and contained.
Ask any mediator you’re considering what formats they offer and what works for your situation.
5. Compare the cost of mediation to the cost of not mediating
It can feel counterintuitive to spend money on mediation when funds are already stretched. But it’s worth comparing what you’d actually be paying for, on each pathway.
Court proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia cost significantly more than mediation. They also take much longer (often months or years rather than weeks), and they carry a substantial emotional toll, particularly when children are involved.
Even at private rates, mediation is almost always the most financially responsible option. The real question isn’t whether you can afford mediation. It’s whether you can afford the alternative.
6. If safety is a factor
If you have any concerns about your safety or your children’s safety, please tell the service you contact during the intake stage. Risk assessment is standard practice for any accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Family Dispute Resolution may not be appropriate in every situation. If it isn’t, a Section 60I certificate may be issued under section 60I of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), which allows you to apply directly to the court. This is also the situation where Legal Aid representation is most likely to be available, if you meet the current eligibility criteria.
7. The most expensive thing you can do is nothing
In my experience, the people who end up paying the most in family law matters aren’t the ones who choose private mediation. They’re the ones who put off dealing with the situation for too long.
When matters sit unresolved:
- Conflict tends to escalate
- Communication breaks down further
- Legal costs rise the further down the court pathway you travel
- The emotional weight of not knowing wears on everyone, especially children
A consultation doesn’t commit you to anything. It gives you clarity about your options, including what a payment plan would look like for your situation.
If you’d like to start that conversation, I’d be glad to talk with you.
Book a consultation with Kannen Mediation →
Kelly Neighbour
Kelly Neighbour is the Principal Mediator at Kannen Mediation. A Macquarie University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Laws, she discovered her passion for mediation while working at the Aboriginal Legal Service. Kelly is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and an AMDRAS-accredited mediator. Learn more about Kannen Mediation.
