Child Inclusive Practice (CIP)
Child Inclusive Practice
Child Inclusive Practice is a specialised process offered as part of Family Dispute Resolution for parents working towards parenting arrangements following separation. It provides children with a safe and respectful opportunity to have their experiences heard, helping parents make more informed, child focused decisions during mediation.
Children often experience family separation very differently to the adults around them. While parents are working through Family Dispute Resolution to reach parenting arrangements, children are often trying to make sense of the changes happening in their family and everyday lives.
Child Inclusive Practice offers children the opportunity to meet independently with an experienced Child Consultant in a gentle, age appropriate and supportive environment. It allows children to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences without being asked to choose between their parents or make decisions about future parenting arrangements.
With the child's agreement, feedback from the consultation is then shared with the parents and the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. This assists parents to better understand their child's experiences and emotional needs while supporting more informed discussions about future parenting arrangements.
“What has been clear to me, over time, is the diminishing importance of children and their need to sustain the parent(s)-child relationship, where it is possible following a family breakdown. Studies also indicate the importance of the relationship between a child and their parent(s), both in terms of the family dynamic, and independently.”
— Josephine Byrnes-Luna
How Child Inclusive Practice can help?
Child Inclusive Practice complements the Family Dispute Resolution process by helping parents better understand how separation and family change may be affecting their children. By hearing their child's experiences and emotional needs in a safe and developmentally appropriate way, parents are often better able to make decisions that place their children at the centre of future parenting arrangements.
The process may assist parents to -
better understand their children's emotional and developmental needs
consider parenting arrangements from their children's perspective
improve communication during Family Dispute Resolution
reduce the likelihood of children feeling caught in the middle of parental conflict
focus discussions on the children's needs rather than parental differences
work towards parenting arrangements that support their children's ongoing wellbeing and important family relationships.
“Children are welcome to simply be children. There is no expectation that they have the answers or solve the difficulties their parents are experiencing, only to have their experiences heard with care and respect.”
— Josephine Byrnes-Luna
A Gentle Experience for your Child
Every child experiences family separation differently, and every child responds differently to meeting someone new. Child Inclusive Practice is designed to provide children with a calm, welcoming and supportive environment where they can feel comfortable being themselves.
Children are never asked to choose between their parents or make decisions about future parenting arrangements. Instead, they are given the opportunity to talk about their experiences, feelings and hopes in a way that is appropriate to their age, personality and level of comfort.
Some children enjoy talking, while others communicate more comfortably through drawing, games or other age appropriate activities. The consultation is always guided by the individual child, allowing them the time and space they need to feel safe and heard.
Before any feedback is provided, I speak with each child about what they are comfortable sharing with their parents. The purpose of the feedback is not to repeat private conversations, but to help parents better understand their child's experiences and emotional needs so they can make more informed, child focused decisions during mediation.
Child consultations conducted as part of the Family Dispute Resolution process are confidential in accordance with the Family Law Act, subject to the usual legal exceptions. This allows children to speak openly in a safe and supportive environment.
“Experience has proven to me how crucial the voice of a child can be to the FDR process, and I truly believe that considering the voice of children throughout the FDR process, especially when a parenting program is being developed, is fundamental to any success and for the future family dynamic.”
— Josephine Byrnes-Luna
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The Child Inclusive Practice Process
Every family is different, however Child Inclusive Practice generally follows the same gentle and structured process. Each stage is designed to ensure that both parents and children feel informed, supported and comfortable throughout the consultation process.
Summary of the Process
Before your first appointment
Before Child Inclusive Practice can commence, each parent will be asked to complete a small amount of intake documentation. This helps ensure that I have the information required to prepare for the consultations and provides an opportunity for parents to understand the Child Inclusive Practice process before appointments begin.
Prior to your first appointment, each parent will receive:
a Child Inclusive Practice Agreement for electronic signature
a Client Information Sheet
a short pre-consultation questionnaire.
These documents are sent electronically and should be completed before the first parent consultation.
Initial Parent Consultations
Each parent attends an individual consultation, either in person or online. These appointments provide an opportunity to understand the family's circumstances, discuss any concerns and prepare for the child consultation. They also allow parents to ask questions about the Child Inclusive Practice process and what to expect.
Meeting with Your Child
Children are generally seen face to face at my Camden office, where they have the opportunity to meet in a comfortable, child friendly environment. Where geographical distance makes this impractical, online consultations may be considered in appropriate circumstances.
Children may attend with either parent or another trusted adult. Once they feel settled and comfortable, I spend time meeting with them independently. Where there is more than one child, consultations are arranged according to their ages, individual needs and level of comfort. Some children may be seen separately, while others may spend part of the consultation together.
Feedback to Parents
Following all consultations, a joint verbal feedback session is held with both parents and the Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
The purpose of the feedback is not to repeat everything a child has said, but to help parents better understand their child's experiences, emotional needs and hopes for the future. This often assists parents to approach discussions during mediation with greater insight and a stronger focus on their children's wellbeing.
The Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner then continues the mediation process, using the Child Inclusive Practice feedback to support informed, child focused discussions and future parenting arrangements where possible.
Every child deserves the opportunity to be heard in a way that is safe, respectful and appropriate for their age and stage of development. Child Inclusive Practice provides parents with valuable insight into their children's experiences, supporting more informed discussions and helping families move forward with their children's wellbeing at the centre of future decision making.
Understanding Child Inclusive Practice
Child Inclusive Practice is designed to help parents better understand their children's experiences and emotional needs within the Family Dispute Resolution process. It is not intended to determine parenting outcomes or replace other professional assessments that may be required.
As part of the Child Inclusive Practice process -
children are never asked to choose between their parents or decide future parenting arrangements
the consultation is not a psychological assessment or clinical diagnosis
it is not a parenting assessment or Family Report
the focus is on understanding the child's experiences rather than gathering evidence for court proceedings
feedback is provided to assist parents in making informed, child focused decisions during mediation.