How Much Does Family Dispute Resolution Training Cost in Australia?
By Anthony Lang, Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and CEO
Family dispute resolution and mediation training in Australia ranges from around $1,500 for a focused skill set to about $11,000 for the full Graduate Diploma, depending on the qualification you need. At Family Conflict Institute, every program includes your learning materials and a printed textbook, and every fee can be paid through an interest-free payment plan.
This guide sets out what each program costs, exactly what the fee covers, the payment plans available, and the separate costs to plan for if you go on to seek accreditation. All figures are FCI’s current fees at the time of writing.
What each program costs
Family Conflict Institute offers four programs. Here is the current fee for each:
- Mediation Skill Set: $1,500
- Family Dispute Resolution, 6 Core Units: $8,000
- Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution (CHC81115): $11,000
- Property Settlement Mediation: fees available on request
Mediation Skill Set, $1,500
The lowest-fee program. This nationally recognised skill set covers three units of foundational mediation practice, and it suits people adding mediation to an existing role. See the Mediation Skill Set page for the full outline.
Family Dispute Resolution, 6 Core Units, $8,000
The six core units drawn from the Graduate Diploma, for people who already hold a relevant degree or existing mediation accreditation and need only the core FDR training to seek accreditation. See the 6 Core Units page, and how it compares with the full Graduate Diploma.
Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution, $11,000
The full nationally recognised qualification, ten units in total, and the complete pathway for people new to the field. See the Graduate Diploma page.
Property Settlement Mediation, fees on request
A specialist program whose full outline and fees are being finalised. Get in touch and the team will send the current details.
What the fee covers
FCI fees are designed to be complete, so you are not met with extra charges once you enrol. Every program includes:
- All learning materials, delivered through the online learner portal
- A printed textbook, posted to you at no additional cost
- Self-paced access with after-hours support
The two family dispute resolution programs, the 6 Core Units and the Graduate Diploma, also include monthly check-in calls and free student membership of the FDR Institute. There are no separate charges for course materials or the textbook.
Interest-free payment plans
You do not have to pay the full fee upfront. Every program can be spread across an interest-free payment plan, so the amount you pay is the course fee and nothing more. The current plans are:
- Mediation Skill Set: $500 per month for 3 months
- Family Dispute Resolution, 6 Core Units: $800 per month for 10 months
- Graduate Diploma: $1,100 per month for 10 months
Because the plans are interest-free, spreading the cost does not increase it. Speak to the team if you would like to arrange a plan when you enrol.
FEE-HELP, VET Student Loans and how funding works
A common question is whether you can use a government study loan such as FEE-HELP or a VET Student Loan. Family Conflict Institute does not offer FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans. Instead, we offer the interest-free payment plans set out above.
For many students that works out simpler. Government study loans are repaid through the tax system and the balance is indexed over time, so the total repaid can be more than the original fee. An interest-free plan spreads the same fee over several months with nothing added. If your employer is supporting your study, the team can arrange an invoice for the program.
Other costs to plan for
Two kinds of cost sit outside the course fee, and it helps to know about them early.
Work placement (Graduate Diploma and 6 Core Units)
Both family dispute resolution programs include a supervised work placement. You are encouraged to arrange your own placement host, which carries no fee. For the Graduate Diploma, if you ask FCI to arrange a placement on your behalf, an optional work placement fee of $399 applies, and if you cannot find a host and FCI provides one, a placement hosting fee of $1,300 applies. These apply only at your request. The Graduate Diploma page sets out how placement works.
Accreditation costs (for FDR practitioners)
If your goal is to become an accredited FDR practitioner, some costs are set by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department and are not paid to FCI. Applicants are generally expected to hold professional indemnity insurance and to complete a national police check and working-with-children requirements. These sit alongside your training. For the full picture, see how to become an FDR practitioner.
Choosing the right program for your budget
The right route for your budget depends on where you are starting from. If you already hold a relevant bachelor degree or existing mediation accreditation, the 6 Core Units at $8,000 meets the core training requirement without the full Graduate Diploma. If you are new to the field, the Graduate Diploma at $11,000 is the complete pathway. If you simply want foundational mediation skills, the Mediation Skill Set at $1,500 is the entry point.
Not sure which fits? Which FCI program is right for you walks through it, and how to become an FDR practitioner explains the pathways in full.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to become an FDR practitioner in Australia?
It depends on your pathway. If you are new to the field, the full Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution is $11,000. If you already hold a relevant degree or existing mediation accreditation, the 6 Core Units program is $8,000. Separate costs for accreditation itself, such as professional indemnity insurance and police checks, are set by the Attorney-General’s Department and are not paid to the training provider.
- Does Family Conflict Institute offer FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans?
No. FCI does not offer FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans. Instead, every program can be paid through an interest-free payment plan, so the amount you pay is the course fee with nothing added.
- Are there payment plans, and is there any interest?
Yes, and the plans are interest-free. The Mediation Skill Set is $500 per month for 3 months, the 6 Core Units is $800 per month for 10 months, and the Graduate Diploma is $1,100 per month for 10 months. Spreading the cost does not increase it.
- What is included in the course fee?
Every program includes all learning materials through the online portal and a printed textbook posted to you at no extra cost, with self-paced access and after-hours support. The two family dispute resolution programs also include monthly check-in calls and free student membership of the FDR Institute.
- Are there any hidden costs?
There are no separate charges for course materials or the textbook. For the Graduate Diploma, optional work placement fees apply only if you ask FCI to arrange a placement for you. Costs tied to accreditation, such as insurance and police checks, are set by the Attorney-General’s Department and sit outside the course fee.
- Which is the lower-cost pathway to qualify as an FDR practitioner?
If you already hold a relevant bachelor degree or existing mediation accreditation, the 6 Core Units at $8,000 meets the core training requirement and is cheaper than the full Graduate Diploma. If you do not hold a relevant qualification, the Graduate Diploma at $11,000 is the pathway.
Sources and further reading
Related FCI programs
Related resources
Choosing Your Family Conflict Institute Training Program
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Graduate Diploma vs the Six Core Units: Which Path Fits You?
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How to Become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner in Australia
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How Much Does a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Earn in Australia?
Employed family dispute resolution practitioners in Australia typically earn around $85,000 to $105,000 a year, while private practitioners charge per session and earn according to their caseload. Here is what the figures look like and what drives them.
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Every program includes an interest-free payment plan.
See the programs and payment plans