What is mediation?
Mediation is a structured conversation, guided by a neutral third party, where both sides work toward an agreement they’re both willing to live with. Unlike a court, no one imposes a decision on you – the outcome is yours to shape.
A mediator helps by keeping discussion on track, cutting through miscommunication, identifying what each party actually needs (which is different from their opening position) and moving both sides towards practical, lasting. solutions.
Mediation can happen voluntarily, by court order, or because a contract requires it.
What does a mediator do and not do?
A mediator is not your lawyer, advisor or judge. They won’t tell you what to do or decide who’s right. What they will do is create an environment where both sides can communicate clearly, understand each other’s real concerns and make informed decisions about how to move forward.
Crombie is accredited under the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS), the national benchmark for mediator competence, ethics and impartiality.
What does mediation cost?
The mediator’s fee is split equally between both parties (in workplace mediations, the organisation typically covers costs).
Costs will depend on the complexity of the problem and in particular on the time invested. An hourly or daily fee will apply. Venue costs if applicable are split equally between the parties.
Full day mediation
- Typical range: $2,500 – $3,300 (incl GST)
- What’s included: pre mediation interviews for both parties, background reading and a full day of negotiation (approx 10am – 4pm)
Half day mediation
- Typical range $1,650 – $1,980 (incl GST)
- What’s included: Pre-mediation interviews, up to 5 hours of negotiation.
Overtime beyond the scheduled session is charged at $330/hour + GST. Venue costs, if applicable, are shared equally.
Even at the top of this range, mediations costs a fraction of what litigation typically runs and it’s resolved in a day rather than months or years.
How long does mediation take?
Most commercial, property and workplace disputes are resolved in a single day. Simple matters may take as little as 2 hours; complex ones occasionally run to 2 days. Crombie will have an initial pre-mediation call with each party before the session to understand the issues and make the day as productive as possible.
Clear your schedule for the day. It’s worth it.
CP Mediations 