Helping You Turn Agreements Into Action - Gently, Safely, and With the Child in Mind
At Holding Hands, we know that reaching agreement in mediation takes patience, emotional intelligence, and often, the beginning of something that still feels uncertain.
When supervised contact is part of the parenting plan, we’re here to help you support that agreement . Our service is designed to support the next step - the one that brings the parenting plan off the page and into the child’s world.
A Child-Focused Approach That
Makes Agreement Easier
Here’s How We Help FDRPs
We support you in securing more durable agreements by giving parents a calm, clear, and neutral path forward. When both parents know there’s a structured, child-focused service waiting, it becomes easier to say "yes" and to mean it.
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We reduce stress at the point of agreement
→ Our structured process gives parents confidence to commit -
We offer staggered arrivals and departure times and separate meeting points
→ Logistics are handled sensitively, and parents do not have to see each other -
We provide clear steps and simple language
→ Tips for a good visit, to help support both parents in the lead up to the first visit
Small questions that help parents move from ‘maybe’ to ‘yes.’
Agreements around contact arrangements have the potential to stall not because parents don’t care, but because they can’t yet see how it will actually work.
These questions are designed to help you surface the practical, child-focused details that turn a fragile agreement into something real. You can use them gently, one at a time, or offer them as a checklist to be explored after mediation.
Time, Routine & Location
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What days and times work best for your child to have visits?
Think about their usual routine: mealtimes, naps, school, and when they’re at their best -
How much time feels right for your child to spend on each visit?
Consider their age, attention span, any additional needs, and emotional stamina. -
Would it help your child if visits happened at the same time each week, so they know what to expect?
Consistency and routine builds safety. -
Is there a place your child already knows—like a library, playground, or café—that you feel comfortable with for visits to happen?
Somewhere that feels familiar, safe, and right for them
Practical Agreements
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Who will cover the cost of each part of the process?
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Phone Intake Assessments
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Child Familiarisation Session
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Contact Visits
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Visit Reports
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Would you prefer to share costs, or split them in a different way?
There’s no single right answer - just what works for the parents
Child-Centred Supports
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Are there any emotional, developmental, or medical needs we should keep in mind when planning visits?
So we can meet the child where they are -
What helps your child settle in new situations?
Think of small comforts, familiar snacks, a favourite toy, a warm handover tone.
Our Resources
Our podcast is designed to quietly support the work you do - one episode at a time. Each short, practical conversation explores what child-focused contact looks like in real life, from intake to the first goodbye. Whether you’re a mediator, a lawyer, or a parent navigating this for the first time, these episodes offer gentle clarity without the jargon.
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Episode 1: Welcome to Contact
A simple, child-focused look at what contact is - and what it isn’t. -
Episode 2: Understanding Intake Assessments
Why separate intake matters, and how it sets the tone for everything that follows. -
Episode 3: The Power of a Familiar Face
What a child familiarisation session is, and why it’s the moment everything softens.
Our Always Child-Focused Book Club curates thoughtful, accessible reads that support emotional insight and relational safety - for parents and for professionals.
From The Whole Brain Child to The Power of Showing Up, we explore books that support parents to become more in-tune with, and connected to their children at different ages and developmental stages.
Meet Our Service Manager
Jakki
Service Manager
Day-to-day operations of our Service is managed by our Service Manager, Jakki Schwartz. Jakki has over 14 years experience in children's contact services and over 19 years experience in the Social Work Sector.
Prior to her role as Service Manager for Holding Hands Family Services in 2017, Jakki was the Co-ordinator of one of the leading Government Funded Children's Contact Services in Sydney.
Jakki holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Post Graduate certification in Social Work supervision and is considered to be one of the most experienced Service Managers in children's contact work.
Jakki is a co-host on our podcast #alwayschildfocused.
Sometimes it helps to know who’s on the other side.
We’re available for quick referrals, resource sharing, or quiet background support. No pressure, no push. Just a team that understands the work you do, and the families you hold.
👉 Call (02) 9031 9637
👉 contact@holding-hands.com.au