How much?
Mediator and Conciliators’ fees are as follows:
Pre-mediation/ conciliation process
Approx. 45-60 minutes each participant individually (via phone or online) plus 2 hour mediator/conciliator time for preparation
$25o per person -
Total = $500 per process
Price includes GST
During the pre-mediation or pre-conciliation intake process, a mediator or conciliator informs parties about the process. They also assist disputing parties in gathering and clarifying information needed by the parties and establish protocols for sharing this information. The mediator or conciliator encourages parties to seek legal advice about their rights and the legal costs and likely outcome of pursuing their claim in court. This information helps parties to understand their alternatives when considering settlement offers.
Most importantly, the mediator or conciliator will screen dispute participants and assess the suitability for dispute resolution. If the dispute is suitable for mediation or conciliation then the type of process is determined eg. shuttle (parties in different rooms), co-mediation, virtual/ online etc. Further, practical issues such as deciding venue, timing, cost, sharing of costs and other factors are determined. If mediation or conciliation is not considered viable, then the process ends.
The pre-mediation/ conciliation process normally occurs over the phone with paperwork provided via email or post for completion by disputing parties. The process normally only takes about 45-60 minutes for each dispute participant. The mediator or conciliator undertakes significant background work to support the process.
Parties are required to complete and sign an Agreement to Mediate/ Conciliate prior to any sessions beginning. This agreement will include a description of costs and fee payment arrangements. By signing the agreement each participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the agreement to mediate/conciliate.
The pre-mediation/conciliation process is not optional.
Any additional time required to that allocated for this process will cost $350/ hour (incl GST), charged to the party requiring the additional time.
Mediation sessions
Minimum 3 hour session
$525 per person/3 hours -
Total = $1050 per session
Price includes GST
Mediation sessions, whether 3 hour sessions or full day sessions involve similar processes including preparation, opening statements, discussion of issues, setting an agenda, exploring the issues raised, generating options for resolution, private sessions, negotiation, agreement development, consolidation and conclusion. The fees for mediation includes documenting agreements and all communication between the mediation sessions including post-mediation. No refund is payable if resolution is reached in less time.
Only two (2) mediation sessions are able to be booked each day, subject to mediator availability. Mediation sessions involves significant mediator preparation pre and post-mediation times present with parties.
Additional mediation time is able to be booked in one hour blocks at $350 per person per hour (including GST) subject to mediator availability.
Conciliation sessions, whether 3 hour sessions or full day sessions involve similar processes including preparation, opening statements, discussion of issues, setting an agenda, exploring the issues raised, generating options for resolution, private sessions, negotiation, agreement development, consolidation and conclusion. The fees for conciliation includes documenting agreements and all communication between the conciliation sessions including post-conciliation. No refund is payable if resolution is reached in less time.
Only two (2) conciliation sessions are able to be booked each day, subject to conciliator availability. Conciliator sessions involves significant preparation pre and post-mediation times present with parties.
Additional conciliation time is able to be booked in one hour blocks at $350 per person per hour (including GST) subject to conciliator availability.
Conciliation sessions
Minimum 3 hour session
$525 per person/3 hours -
Total = $1050 per session
Price includes GST
Full day mediation/ conciliation
9:30 am – 5 pm
(6.5 hours with 60 min lunch break)
$1137.50 per person /6.5 hours -
total = $2275 per session
Price includes GST
See above (Mediation/ Conciliation sessions) for a description of processes.
The rate for a Full Day Mediation or Conciliation is based on the mediator/ conciliator being booked and available for a full day and no refund is payable if resolution is reached in less time.
Full day mediation or conciliation involves significant mediator/ conciliator preparation pre and post mediation. A lunch break of 60 minutes is included in the fee for a full day mediation/ conciliation.'
Note: Pre-mediation or pre-concilistion is required prior to booking this process.
Includes an additional 3 hours reading and preparation time. Any additional time required to that allocated for this process will cost $350/ hour (incl GST), charged to the party requiring the additional time.
Travel, accommodation and room hire expenses
invoiced at cost per person - prices will be determined prior to appointment.
Travel, accommodation and room hire expenses (if incurred) will be invoiced at cost.
Virtual or online mediation will not incur any travel, accommodation and room hire expenses.
Co-mediation/
Co-conciliation
invoiced at cost per person - prices will be determined prior to appointment.
Mediation/conciliation may be facilitated by single or multiple professionals depending on the issue.
The choice to use co-mediation or co-conciliation may be because each dispute resolution professional has a specialisation in different fields or an age or gender balance is considered to be helpful in a specific dispute.
If co-mediation/co-conciliation is required, information on costs will be provided as it will vary depending on the cost of the professionals engaged.
Virtual mediation/ conciliation
No additional cost
Virtual or online mediation/conciliation will not incur any travel, accommodation and room hire expenses. So no additional cost is incurred with virtual mediation/conciliation. However, both disputing parties must be able to access computer systems able to reliably use programs such as FaceTime, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom or other suitable video communication programs.