In this episode of The Divorce Collective Podcast, Danielle Young—Head of Family Law at Collective Family Law Group and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at Danielle Young Mediations—unpacks one of the most common questions she hears: Do step-parents have rights when it comes to children they’ve helped raise?

We’ll cover who the law recognises as a step-parent under the Family Law Act 1975, whether step-parents automatically get parental rights, and what options are available if you want to maintain a meaningful relationship with your step-children after separation. If you’ve played a big role in raising your partner’s children and you’re unsure what happens next, this episode is for you.

#DivorceCollectivePodcast #FamilyLawAustralia #StepParentRights #ParentingAfterSeparation #FamilyMediation #AustralianFamilyLaw 

In this episode, Danielle Young, Head of Family Law at Collective Family Law Group and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, speaks directly to anyone feeling emotionally overwhelmed by separation. She explores the storm of emotions that often come with it  sadness, anger, fear, guilt, and even relief and reminds listeners that every feeling is valid and part of the healing process.

Danielle shares the Drop Anchor technique for grounding yourself when emotions feel too much, practical steps for breaking things down into manageable actions, and ways to communicate calmly and respectfully when co-parenting or negotiating property.

She also explains how mediation provides a neutral, child-focused space to resolve conflict helping families reach lasting agreements, reduce stress, and model healthy communication for their children.

 Tune in to learn:

How to manage emotional overwhelm in separation
How to apply the Drop Anchor technique to stay grounded
Practical ways to communicate with kindness and set healthy boundaries
Why mediation leads to calmer, more lasting outcomes for families
#DivorceCollectivePodcast #FamilyLaw #Mediation #SeparationSupport #EmotionalWellbeing #CoParenting

Who keeps the pet after a breakup?

Under new changes to the Family Law Act, pets are finally being seen for what they are — loved family members.

In this episode of The Divorce Collective, Dannielle Young dives into what these legal changes mean, how courts are handling pet custody, and why mediation might be the key to avoiding a pet custody war.

In this episode of The Divorce Collective, host Dannielle Young follows her theme of stress and conflict management strategies to adopt during separation. She introduces the Dropping Anchor Technique, a mindfulness-based grounding exercise rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). By exploring this technique, Dannielle helps individuals to stay calm and collected during the emotionally overwhelming moments of separation. This practical, three-step will call you to feel empowered in regaining control of your emotions and behaviours when confronted with challenges.

Key Points Discussed:

What is the Dropping Anchor Technique?

Like an anchor in stormy waters, this grounding exercise aims to help manage emotional storms during high-stress situations by preventing emotional drifts and impulsive reactions.

Separation can be an emotionally charged process, often leading to misunderstandings and conflict. In today’s episode of The Divorce Collective, Dannielle Young explores the BIFF Technique—Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm—a practical communication strategy to minimise conflict during separation. Whether you're navigating co-parenting, legal discussions, or personal exchanges, BIFF offers a structured approach to keep conversations calm and productive. 

Key Points Discussed

What is BIFF?

• Brief: Keep communication short, clear, and to the point.
• Informative

Join Senior Associate and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Dannielle Young in this episode of the Divorce Collective Podcast as she shares insight on navigating separation with children with neurodivergent needs.

Separation is challenging and the complexities multiply when neurodivergent children are involved in the process. Neurodivergent children thrive on structure, consistency and credibility. It is essential to adapt thoughtful strategies that prioritise children’s emotional wellbeing.

Here are some useful strategies you can implement, which are further discussed in today’s episode:

1. Maintain consistency and routine
2. Communicate openly and honestly
3. Develop transition plan
4. Foster positive co-parenting and collaboration

In this episode of The Divorce Collective Podcast, Dannielle Young, Senior Associate at Collective Family Law Group and an experienced Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, sheds light on the often-overlooked topic of support people in family law mediation. 

Mediation is a highly effe

In this episode of The Divorce Collective Podcast, Danielle Young, Senior Associate and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner at Collective Family Law Group, explores the often-overlooked downsides of taking family law disputes to court. Many separating couples assume that court is the only route to resolve issues like parenting arrangements and property settlements, but it’s important to understand the emotional, financial, and time-consuming toll it can take on everyone involved—especially the children.

Dannielle Talks About:

• The emotional impact of court on both parents and children
• How lengthy court proceedings can leave families in a state of limbo
• The financial strain of legal fees and court costs

Join Senior Associate and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Dannielle Young in this episode of the Divorce Collective Podcast, as she discusses a topic that often comes up in family law matters: Introducing new partners to your children after separation.

The transition through separation and divorce is a challenging time, especially when it involves managing your children’s emotions and adjusting to new dynamics within the family. Introducing a new partner can add complexity to this already delicate situation. In this episode, Dannielle provides guidance on how to approach this sensitive process, ensuring that the well-being of your children remains a priority.

Join Senior Associate and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Dannielle Young in this episode of the Divorce Collective Podcast, as she shares the harmful effects of speaking negatively about the other parent post-separation. While it’s common for emotions to run high during and after a separation, parents often don’t realise the profound impact that negative comments can have on their children.

In this episode, Dannielle discusses the emotional, psychological, and legal implications of speaking poorly about the other parent. She highlights how this behaviour can cause emotional distress, damage self-esteem, increase stress, and strain the parent-child relationship. Dannielle also explores the potential long-term consequences for children, including their ability to form healthy relationships and navigate their own emotions in adulthood.

Parents have a responsibility to prioritise their children’s well-being, even in the most challenging times. Tune in to learn why it’s crucial to avoid disparaging the other parent and how to create a supportive environment that fosters resilience and a healthy adjustment to family changes.

• Understand how negative comments impact children’s emotional health and self-esteem.
• Learn about the potential legal and custody implications of disparaging the other parent.
• Discover strategies for fostering a positive and nurturing environment post-separation.

Join us to gain valuable insights into how your actions as a parent can shape your child’s emotional health and well-being during separation. Book