Specialised family dispute resolution and mediation services
Expert guidance to resolve family parenting, property and workplace issues.
Our approach
Donna is committed to providing a timely mediation service where people are supported to put forward their views and have discussions in a private and respectful environment. She works with parties to define their goals and ensure that mediation sessions are tailored to fit the needs of participants. Research shows that attendance at mediation can increase peoples’ understanding of each other’s perspectives, improve future relationships and lead to workable agreements.
Expertise
Donna has a legal background and 30 years of practice as a mediator. She is an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP) and NMAS accredited mediator. Donna has extensive experience in mediating family law parenting and property matters and workplace issues. She is co-author of the family law text Family Law Principles used to teach family law in university law schools around Australia. Donna has conducted family dispute resolution conferences for Legal Aid Queensland since 1993 and been mediating privately since 2008. She is also currently a sessional conciliator for the Fair Work Commission.
Keep control of your separation
Family courts currently have huge backlogs. It can take up to 2 years or more to have a final decision made by a judge. When separating couples take their matters to the courts, they hand over control to judges with very limited time to make such important decisions. Mediation, known as “family dispute resolution” when discussing arrangements for children, allows people to keep control over decisions affecting their family. Donna as a qualified family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP), has the specialised training and experience to assist parents in structuring parenting arrangements tailored to both their needs and those of their children.
Tailor parenting decisions to the needs of your children
Research shows that ongoing high level conflict is damaging for parents and children in separated families. Participating in family dispute resolution allows parents to engage in constructive discussions. Donna is an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP) and is trained to assist parents to make decisions about parenting arrangements suited to their children’s ages, developmental and educational needs. Parents can tailor their parenting arrangements to align with their needs and those of their children.
In-person and remote options
Donna is based in Brisbane and conducts mediation sessions in-person or via video conferencing. She also travels to locations outside of Brisbane for in-person sessions and, using video conferencing, can conduct mediations with parties around Australia.
Meet Donna Cooper
