Key takeaway: Family mediation in Australia ranges from free (through government-funded FRCs and community services) to standard private rates of $1,500–$2,250 per person per session. Between those extremes, some private providers offer assessed reduced-fee pathways for people who cannot comfortably pay standard rates but do not qualify for free services.
What Does Family Mediation Usually Cost?
Standard private family mediation in Australia typically costs between $1,500 and $2,250 per participant for a half or full day session. For two participants, that is $3,000–$4,500 in total. These figures cover the mediator's time; additional costs such as preparation, venue, and consent order drafting may apply.
The FCFCOA fee schedule provides a useful reference point for what contested litigation costs — typically $30,000–$150,000 or more per party — which puts the cost of even standard private mediation in context.
Is Free Family Mediation Available?
Yes, in certain circumstances. Australia's government-funded family dispute resolution system provides free or heavily subsidised services through:
- Family Relationship Centres — government-funded centres offering the first session free for most families. Family Relationships Online is the national directory.
- Community FDR providers — non-profit and community organisations funded by the Commonwealth or states to provide low-cost dispute resolution.
- Legal Aid — National Legal Aid can facilitate or fund mediation for eligible people who meet means and merit tests.
Free services have eligibility requirements and can have waiting lists. See Is family mediation free in Australia? for a detailed breakdown.
If free services don't fit your situation, a fee-assessed private option may be available.
Check your indicative contribution →What Is Reduced-Fee Private Mediation?
Reduced-fee private mediation is a privately delivered service where each participant's contribution is assessed against their individual financial capacity — their income, accessible assets, dependants, and circumstances — rather than charged at a flat standard rate.
It sits between free government services and standard private mediation in terms of cost, but it is closer to standard private mediation in terms of quality, flexibility, and the complexity of matters it can handle.
How Does It Differ From Free Mediation?
- Cost: There is still a participant contribution, assessed on financial capacity. It is not free.
- Funding: Privately funded through participant contributions, not government grants.
- Eligibility: Assessment based on financial capacity, not a Legal Aid means and merit test.
- Flexibility: Private services tend to offer more flexibility on timing, mediator selection, and complexity of matters handled.
- Speed: Private providers generally offer shorter lead times than government-funded services, which can have significant waiting lists.
Does Lower Cost Mean Lower Quality?
Not necessarily. A reduced-fee private mediation service using qualified, accredited mediators can deliver the same professional standard as a standard-rate service. The qualification and accreditation requirements for mediators do not vary by fee level. What a lower assessed contribution reflects is the participant's financial capacity — not the quality of the mediator or the process.
Who May Benefit From Reduced-Fee Mediation?
Reduced-fee mediation may be appropriate for people who:
- have an income above the Legal Aid threshold but cannot comfortably pay standard private rates;
- do not qualify for free community services;
- are in a period of financial transition after separation;
- need a specialist accredited mediator for a complex matter;
- want a faster process than government-funded services can currently offer;
- need the matter handled with greater confidentiality or flexibility.
What If One Person Can Afford More?
Under a well-structured reduced-fee pathway, each participant is assessed individually. You are not assessed on your former partner's income. Participants in the same mediation can pay different amounts without either being told the other's financial details or contribution level.
See Who pays for mediation when one person earns more? for a full explanation of how this works.
What If I Own Property But Have Little Cash?
Owning a house or having superannuation does not automatically mean you have accessible cash available. A reduced-fee provider that assesses financial capacity properly will consider the difference between what you own and what you can readily access. See Asset rich but cash poor: can I get reduced-fee mediation? for details.
Mediations Australia's Access Mediation uses the same mediators and process as our standard service.
See how Access Mediation works →Comparing the Main Options
| Option | Approx. cost | Eligibility | Wait time | Complexity handled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Relationship Centre | Free (1hr) to low-cost | Most families; parenting focus | Often weeks–months | Simpler matters |
| Community FDR | Free to subsidised | Varies by provider | Varies | Simpler to moderate |
| Legal Aid | Free if eligible | Means + merit test | Variable | Varies |
| Reduced-fee private (Access Mediation) | From $495 + GST pp assessed | Income + asset assessment | Generally 1–2 weeks | Full range incl. property |
| Standard private mediation | $1,500–$2,250 pp | None | Flexible | Full range |
How Access Mediation Works
Access Mediation is Mediations Australia's assessed reduced-contribution pathway. It is available for eligible family and property matters. Contributions are assessed individually using a structured process based on your income, accessible assets, dependants, and hardship circumstances — not your partner's financial position.
Assessment details are private. To check your indicative contribution, use the calculator on the Access Mediation page.
General information only. This is not legal advice.