Welcome back! In our Season 5 opener, Diane welcomes Paula back to Melbourne after her year-long sabbatical in Tonga, where she worked to expand legal services for women and children.

In this episode, Diane and Paula dive deep into recent major changes to the Family Law Act regarding Family Violence and what those changes mean in practice for anyone navigating separation. Together, they break down the critical differences between how family violence is approached in a goodwill mediation space versus an evidence-based litigation space. Whether you are trying to understand what actually constitutes "admissible evidence" or how coercive control impacts parenting arrangements, this episode offers clear, straight-talking guidance without the legalese.

If you found this episode helpful, please hit Follow, leave us a review, and share it with anyone currently navigating a separation.

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Connect With Us

Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.au

Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Support Services and Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, or if this episode brought up difficult emotions, help is available. Please reach out to the following Australian services:

• 1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732 (24/7 national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information, and support service).
• Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention).
• MensLine Australia: Call 1300 78 99 78 (24/7 telephone and online support and referral service for men).
• Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800 (Free, private, and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25).
• Relationships Australia: Call 1300 364 277 (Support groups and counselling for relationships).

If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas can be a beautiful time for children but for separated parents, it often comes with pressure, logistics, and emotions running high. In this episode, Dianne and Alina break down a simple, child-focused approach to planning Christmas Day so the holiday stays joyful, predictable, and low-conflict.

We explore the three key steps every separated parent should follow to create a smooth shared-care Christmas, whether you’ve been co-parenting for years or this is your first festive season apart.

We also talk through how different age groups experience shared care on Christmas Day, from toddlers to teens and what parents can do to support them emotionally through transitions.

Whether you share the day, alternate years, or are navigating blended families, these three steps will help you create a calmer, more connected Christmas for your children.

For more tips and guides on navigating shared care, visit:

Stress-Free Shared Care Christmas: 3 Tips for Separated Parents (baysidemediation.com.au)

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When families separate, kids feel every ripple.

In this three-part series, Bayside Mediation’s Principal Mediator Dianne Loveday and Alina Kleiman, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, unpack how to support children through one of life’s biggest changes — separation and divorce.

Across these conversations, they explore how to:

• Help children manage emotions and understand what’s happening in age-appropriate ways
• Keep adult conversations private and protect kids from conflict
• Communicate calmly and co-parent with empathy (even when it’s tough)
• Rebuild stability, create new routines, and support children’s emotional growth

Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families through transition, this series offers practical, compassionate advice to help protect little hearts in big moments.

For more resources or to connect with the team, visit Bayside Mediation - FDR & Family Mediation - Separate Smarter

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When families separate, kids feel every ripple.

In this three-part series, Bayside Mediation’s Principal Mediator Dianne Loveday and Alina Kleiman, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, unpack how to support children through one of life’s biggest changes — separation and divorce.

Across these conversations, they explore how to:

• Help children manage emotions and understand what’s happening in age-appropriate ways
• Keep adult conversations private and protect kids from conflict
• Communicate calmly and co-parent with empathy (even when it’s tough)
• Rebuild stability, create new routines, and support children’s emotional growth

Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families through transition, this series offers practical, compassionate advice to help protect little hearts in big moments.

For more resources or to connect with the team, visit Bayside Mediation - FDR & Family Mediation - Separate Smarter

Call Us: 03 95536491

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When families separate, kids feel every ripple.

In this three-part series, Bayside Mediation’s Principal Mediator Dianne Loveday and Alina Kleiman, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, unpack how to support children through one of life’s biggest changes — separation and divorce.

Across these conversations, they explore how to:

• Help children manage emotions and understand what’s happening in age-appropriate ways
• Keep adult conversations private and protect kids from conflict
• Communicate calmly and co-parent with empathy (even when it’s tough)
• Rebuild stability, create new routines, and support children’s emotional growth

Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional supporting families through transition, this series offers practical, compassionate advice to help protect little hearts in big moments.

For more resources or to connect with the team, visit Bayside Mediation - FDR & Family Mediation - Separate Smarter

Call Us: 03 95536491

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode, Dianne and Paula unpack the often-overlooked differences between engaging in mediation through private practice versus government funded family dispute resolution. While the core principles of mediation remain consistent, confidentiality, neutrality, and the assurance that what’s said can’t later be used against you in court the path to the table and the environment in which those conversations unfold can look very different. From the role lawyers play, to the accessibility and structure, the episode explores the nuances that shape people’s experiences in mediation. Dianne and Paula break down the practical realities, highlighting that family dispute resolution isn’t black and white, it’s a process influenced by context, approach, and the space in which families try to resolve conflict.

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paula’s still in Tonga, and this week’s episode is for the animal lovers. 🐾

With recent changes to Australia’s Family Law Act, companion animals, from dogs and cats to birds, bunnies, and beyond are getting new legal recognition in separation. Paula and Dianne unpack what the law now says, how to navigate disputes with compassion, and why pets deserve more than just a property label.

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Paula dials in from Tonga, where she’s currently on secondment helping to establish a new family law service. She and Dianne explore the latest changes to Australia’s Family Law Act, with a focus on one of the most significant updates: the formal introduction of a duty of disclosure. For the first time, the legislation places a clear obligation on practitioners to inform clients of their responsibility to disclose financial and other relevant information during separation. Paula and Dianne break down what this means in real terms, why it’s so important, and how it aims to create more transparent, equitable outcomes.

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Paula joins Dianne from her secondment in Tonga, where she’s helping to set up a new women's and children's legal service. Together, they unpack the significant June 2025 changes to Australia’s Family Law Act with a focus on how financial and property matters are set to shift during relationship breakdowns.

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dianne and Alina explore a commonly misunderstood fact, mediation can still be an option even when a Family Violence Order (FVO) is in place. With appropriate safeguards, Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) can proceed safely and respectfully, helping families make parenting arrangements that prioritise the child’s best interests. While the presence of a protection order signals risk, it doesn’t automatically exclude FDR, especially when the law encourages meaningful, safe contact between children and both parents. This episode wraps up the series by highlighting how even in complex situations, mediation remains a valuable, structured path forward.

Contact Dianne Loveday at Bayside Mediation | www.baysidemediation.com.auContact Paula Appelhans at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-appelhans/

Disclaimer & Note from the Hosts:

The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. The views, stories, and insights expressed in this episode reflect the personal professional experiences and observations of Paula Applehans (Family Lawyer) and Diane Loveday (Mediator) working within the Australian legal and mediation spaces. Every family law matter is unique; please consult Paul or Dianne for advice specific to your personal situation. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.