Relationships Australia Parenting Course in Western Australia
Relationships Australia Parenting Course in Western Australia
Your ex just told you they've booked into a parenting course, or your mediator suggested you attend one before your next Family Dispute Resolution session. Either way, you're wondering what these programs actually involve and whether they're worth your time.
Relationships Australia WA runs several parenting programs designed specifically for separated families. Here's what you need to know before enrolling.
What the Course Actually Covers
The flagship program is "Parenting After Separation" — a structured workshop that runs over one to two sessions (typically 3-4 hours total). The content focuses on:
- How separation affects children at different developmental stages
- Reducing conflict in front of children during changeover
- Communicating effectively with your co-parent about logistics
- Understanding the difference between parenting plans and parenting orders under current WA law
- Building routines that help children feel secure across two households
Since the May 2024 reforms abolished the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility, the course now emphasises how the court prioritises child safety and the six best-interests factors when assessing any parenting arrangement.
Who Should Attend
You don't need a court order to enrol. Most parents attend voluntarily at one of three points:
Before mediation. FDR practitioners at Relationships Australia often recommend the course during intake assessment. Attending before your mediation sessions gives you a shared framework with your co-parent for discussing schedules, changeover logistics, and decision-making responsibilities.
During contested proceedings. If you're self-represented in the Family Court of Western Australia, demonstrating you've completed a parenting course shows the judicial officer you're actively investing in your parental capacity — one of the six factors under Section 60CC (or Section 66C for de facto couples under state legislation).
After orders are made. Parents struggling to implement a parenting schedule — particularly those managing high-conflict changeovers — find the communication skills module immediately practical.
Cost and Availability
Relationships Australia WA charges a sliding scale fee for parenting programs, typically between $30 and $150 AUD per person depending on income. Concession card holders and parents receiving Legal Aid may access programs at reduced or no cost.
Courses run at multiple locations across Perth (Northbridge, Gosnells, Joondalup, Rockingham) and regional centres including Bunbury, Albany, and Geraldton. Evening and weekend sessions are available for working parents.
Online options expanded since 2024, though the in-person format is generally preferred for the group discussion components.
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How It Connects to Your Parenting Plan
The course doesn't draft your parenting plan for you, but it gives you the vocabulary and decision-making framework to approach mediation more productively. Parents who attend before FDR report feeling less reactive during negotiations because they've already processed common emotional triggers in a low-stakes environment.
If you're preparing for mediation and want a structured guide to drafting your actual parenting plan — including the specific clauses the Family Court of Western Australia expects to see in a Form 11 Consent Order — the Western Australia Custody & Parenting Plan Guide walks you through each decision point with worksheets.
Is It Mandatory?
No WA court currently mandates a specific parenting course as a condition of parenting orders, though judicial officers can (and do) include conditions requiring parents to attend counselling or family therapy programs. The course itself is voluntary for most parents.
However, Family Dispute Resolution is mandatory before filing parenting applications (unless you qualify for an exemption under Form NP1 for family violence or urgency). Relationships Australia is one of the largest accredited FDR providers in Western Australia, so many parents encounter their parenting courses as part of the broader FDR intake process.
The Bottom Line
A Relationships Australia parenting course won't resolve your custody dispute on its own, but it reduces the emotional temperature before mediation and demonstrates parental commitment if your matter proceeds to court. At $30-$150, it's one of the lowest-cost investments you can make during separation — and unlike a lawyer consultation, the skills transfer directly into daily co-parenting.
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