Skip to content
Settle Smart Mediations
Call

Settle Smart. Resolve with Confidence.

Resolve the dispute without going to court

I help people resolve disputes without the stress, cost and uncertainty of going to court. I provide a structured, neutral space where people can have the difficult conversations and work towards practical agreements.

You do not need to understand mediation, have everything organised, or know exactly what you want the outcome to be before you get in touch.

Send an enquiry

or call 0406 269 167

At a glance

Half day
4 hours, $880
Full day
6 hours, $1,500
Delivered
Online and Australia wide

What I mediate

Separation and family

Family Law Mediation

Separating couples working through family law disputes, out of court.

Helping separating couples work through family law disputes in a structured and neutral environment, with a focus on practical solutions and reducing the financial and emotional cost of ongoing conflict.

Section 60I certificates

Settle Smart Mediations does not issue section 60I certificates. If you need one, you will need to engage a practitioner who holds the accreditation required to issue them. Mention it when you enquire and I will tell you straight away whether what I do fits what you need.

Property Settlements

Dividing assets, liabilities and superannuation after separation.

Helping separated parties work through the division of assets, liabilities, superannuation and other financial matters, identify areas of agreement and negotiate possible settlement outcomes.

Parenting Arrangements

Time with the children, communication, holidays and special occasions.

Providing a structured environment for parents to discuss practical parenting issues such as time with the children, communication, holidays, special occasions and other arrangements affecting their children.

Section 60I certificates

Settle Smart Mediations does not issue section 60I certificates. If you need one, you will need to engage a practitioner who holds the accreditation required to issue them. Mention it when you enquire and I will tell you straight away whether what I do fits what you need.

Workplace, commercial and community

Workplace Disputes

Conflict between colleagues, or between a staff member and an employer.

Assisting employees, employers and colleagues to address workplace conflict, communication breakdowns and ongoing working relationships before disputes become more entrenched.

Civil & Commercial Disputes

Agreements, services, money and business relationships, without litigation.

Helping individuals and businesses negotiate disputes involving agreements, services, money, business relationships and other civil or commercial issues without immediately resorting to litigation.

Neighbour & Community Disputes

Boundaries, noise and communication, where the relationship continues.

Helping people address disputes involving neighbours or community relationships, including communication problems, boundaries, noise and other ongoing issues where maintaining a workable relationship can be important.

What actually happens

  1. Initial enquiry

    First contact

    I take some basic information about the dispute, who is involved and what the parties are hoping to resolve. Before a mediation proceeds it is important to check the matter is suitable, which depending on the circumstances may involve speaking with each party separately beforehand.

  2. Contacting the other party

    Voluntary, both must agree

    If only one person has contacted Settle Smart, the other party is then invited to participate. Mediation is a voluntary process, so both parties need to be willing. Communication about arranging the mediation can be managed through Settle Smart, so the parties do not have to negotiate the logistics themselves.

  3. Preparing for mediation

    Before the session

    Each party is given information about the process and what to expect. Where appropriate, the parties may also provide relevant documents or a brief summary of the issues beforehand. The aim is to make sure the mediation itself can focus on the issues that actually need to be resolved.

  4. The mediation

    Usually up to 4 hours, online

    Mediation is conducted online, so it works regardless of where the parties are located. Depending on the circumstances it may involve joint discussions, separate private sessions with each party, or a combination of both. I help the parties identify the issues, communicate their concerns, explore possible solutions and negotiate towards an outcome they can both live with. Some matters resolve earlier, while more complex disputes may need additional time or another session.

  5. Reaching an agreement

    Recorded in writing

    If an agreement is reached, the agreed terms can be recorded so there is a clear written record of what has been decided. Depending on the type of dispute, further steps may be required to make it legally binding, and parties may be encouraged to get independent legal advice before signing formal documents. The mediator facilitates the agreement. The parties remain in control of the decisions.

What people ask first

Do I have to be in the same room as the other person?
No. One of the first things we discuss is how the mediation should be conducted. Depending on the circumstances, parties may participate together, separately, or through a combination of joint and private sessions. You will know how the process will work before the mediation begins.
What if we do not agree on everything?
Mediation does not have to resolve every issue to be worthwhile. Sometimes the parties resolve the entire dispute. Sometimes they agree on several issues and significantly narrow what remains. Even a partial agreement can save considerable time, stress and expense later. The objective is not to force a settlement, it is to give the parties a genuine opportunity to find their own way forward.

Fees

Half day

$880

4 hours, including GST

Full day

$1,500

6 hours, including GST

Both fees include

  • Intake with each party before the session.
  • The approach to the other party.
  • The mediation session itself.
  • Recording the agreed terms in writing.

About Kayla Curtis

I work as a family law solicitor and mediator, which gives me first-hand insight into how quickly disputes become expensive, stressful and emotionally exhausting once they enter the court system.

That work gave me a strong understanding of the legal issues behind disputes, but it also showed me that litigation is not always the best way to resolve them. Often, people need an opportunity to sit down, identify what actually matters, understand where the other person is coming from and explore whether there is a practical way forward.

That was the motivation behind Settle Smart Mediations. I wanted to offer a service that was professional and structured, but also accessible and affordable. Mediation should not feel intimidating or reserved for people involved in large commercial disputes. It can be an effective tool for people dealing with separation, property, parenting, workplace, commercial or community disputes.

The philosophy behind Settle Smart is simple. Where appropriate, people should have the opportunity to resolve their dispute themselves rather than having a court or tribunal make the decision for them.

My role as mediator is not to decide who is right or wrong, and I do not make decisions for the parties. I remain neutral and guide the conversation so that each person has an opportunity to be heard, the issues can be properly identified, and realistic options for resolution can be explored.

My legal background is exactly that, background. I do not act for either person, I do not give legal advice, and I do not tell anyone what a court would decide.

Qualifications

LLB
Bachelor of LawsLegal training that helps me follow the substance of a dispute quickly.
GDLP
Graduate Diploma of Legal PracticePractical legal training completed after the degree.
NMAS
National mediator accreditationAccredited to run mediations under the national standard.
Kayla Curtis, mediator and director of Settle Smart Mediations.

Kayla Curtis

Mediator and Director

Send an enquiry

You do not need to have everything organised, or know exactly what you want the outcome to be. Tell me roughly what the dispute is about and I will tell you whether mediation fits. If it does not, I will say so.

A few lines is enough. Do not include anything you would not want in an email.