supervised changeovers: making transitions easier for everyone

Supervised changeovers are designed for families who don’t need supervised visits anymore, but still value structure and support during handovers.

They focus on one important moment: the child moving between homes. By keeping this moment calm, predictable and child-focused, parents can step back and trust the process.

For many families, changeovers are the next stage after supervised visits.

They show growth and progress - parents have built enough trust that visits no longer need close observation. Instead, the emphasis is on supporting children through transitions, so they can feel safe and confident while maintaining strong relationships with both parents.

Here’s what makes supervised changeovers effective:

🕒 Staggered times so parents don’t need to see each other

📍 Two separate meeting points — one for each parent

💬 A Contact Worker to guide the child and check in briefly with each parent

📝 A short changeover report provided after a few days, capturing how the child managed the transition and any small highlights

Families choose supervised changeovers for many reasons:

💛 To keep transitions low-stress for their child

💛 To avoid conflict or tension during handovers

💛 To maintain healthy structure without needing full supervision

💛 To feel reassured their child is supported during each exchange

Recently, two parents who had separated on good terms told us they wanted to start with supervised changeovers - not because of conflict, but because they didn’t want to take any chances.

Meeting in a beachside area, they used separate meeting points and staggered times to keep things smooth. Their child ran happily between them, with the Contact Worker gently guiding the handover.

The parents later shared that this small structure gave them peace of mind, knowing they were putting their child’s wellbeing first from the very beginning.

Supervised changeovers are a gentle balance - independence for parents, safety and stability for children.

Parents often share their relief when they realise handovers don’t have to be stressful or confrontational. The focus shifts back to the child, where it belongs.

It doesn’t make parenting after separation easy… but it does make it easier.