The Family Separation Navigation (FSN) service is a community-led initiative dedicated to helping individuals make informed decisions regarding family separation and children and manage parental conflict.
FSN provides tailored, one-on-one guidance to support you through this challenging journey, whether you're:
- Newly separated or planning to separate, or
- Facing high conflict situations in the Family Court.
Our goal is to empower you with practical guidance and resources to navigate each step with resilience and confidence.
Community-Led Service Driven by Lived Experience
Strengthening Families with Insight, Empathy, and Community-Led Support.
The FSN service is driven by community Navigators who trained and experienced conflict coaches and mediators who have lived through similar experiences firsthand.
This means you’ll receive compassionate, practical support from individuals who truly understand the challenges of family separation and the realities of high-conflict situations.
We empower you with practical guidance and invaluable knowledge to navigate the complexities of separation, manage parental conflict, and peaceful stratigies in the Family Court and make informed decisions.
Navigating the Storm: Support during Your Family Separation Journey
Feeling confused or uncertain during family separation is completely normal. You are not alone ! This overwhelming period involves difficult decisions and emotional challenges, and even small missteps can adversely affect your recovery and your family.
Our community-led initiative offers personalised, one-on-one support from trained conflict coaches and mediators who understand your situation. You don’t have to face this journey alone; we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Our Services
FSN offers personalised support to address your unique situation, focusing on creating a pathway that minimises conflict and enhances positive outcomes for you and your family. Whether you’re managing issues around child care arrangements, guardianship disputes, relationship property division, or finances, we provide practical guidance to support you through every step.
Demystifying Separation
Providing clear, compassionate guidance to navigate the complexities of family separation with confidence and support.
Conflict Management
Personalised conflict management coaching sessions to help you manage your parental conflict effectively without stress.
Guidance and Knowledge Sharing
We equip families with expert insights and practical tools for navigating separation, co-parenting and effective parenting plans.
Court Possible Outcomes
Providing insights into possible Family Court outcomes, if your dispute was placed before the Family Court, as an alternative litigation.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity
The process prioritises cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, respecting diverse perspectives and values within families
Sharing knowledge & Prevention
The service emphasises education and prevention to help parents avoid adversrial separation and mitigate future disputes
Court Possible Outcomes
Insights into the potential Family Court outcomes, to help parents in making informed decisions to avoid litigation
Insightful Community Guidance
Drawing from community perspectives and over a decade of firsthand experience , we provide whānau with comprehensive insights into several aspects of Family Sepration
During the process we offer guidance and support to parents on how to manage and reduce conflict, including effective communication strategies, conflict resolution skills, and techniques for co-parenting effectively.
Court Possible Outcomes
We offer whānau comprehensive insights into the possible outcomes of their disputes if they are brought before the Family Court. This approach is very beneficial, as it allows whānau to explore potential solutions to their issues in a more informal & less adversarial setting than the court. It also helps them make more informed decisions.
Guidance and Awareness
A crucial aspect of our approach is to highlight the detrimental effects of high parental conflict and adversarial separation on both parents and their children. We offer guidance on the potential long-term repercussions for all involved, equipping whānau with strategies to mitigate harm and foster healthier co-parenting relationships.
Explore the FAQs for more information
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions to find answers and more information about this service.
What parents say about us
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Reagan- Auckland pA
After battling in court for almost 6 years, finally I have the Final Parenting Order sealed – yayyyy -. I reached out to FDSS around 8 months ago, hoping nothing as I actually started to doubt my own insanity. Having no family in this country and no background knowledge of NZ court system, I did not have good supports, especially against 2 opponent lawyers. I spoke to Zayne who had patiently listened to my complaints & problems. Not only Zayne guided me and gave professional advice and information – much more that I ever received from my previous lawyer -, but he actually believes me from day 1, an act that restored my faith in myself. Zayne had also willing to speak to the other party in order to get my child back again into my life.
I can’t say “THANK YOU” enough to Zayne Jouma for all the times he spent on supporting me with my case and worked hard to make it work. I am and will be forever grateful for the supports, from the phone calls, time, and preparing affidavits; and most importantly having contact my child again. I wish I knew Zayne & FDSS much earlier so all the unnecessary sagas/circus in the court & expenses could have been avoided.
Read more -
Rebecca - Wellington Family Harmony Coaching + OCP
Lucky we approached FDSS at the early stages of my separation. There was alot of severe damage on my relationship with my children. They were refusing to have contact with me. Zayne did the magic ! He spoke with the father and arranged to meet both of us. The knowledge he shared with us was invaluable. After many meetings, now we have agreed to the parenting issues and drafted a very detailed and structured agreement. Also, we are in the process of discontinuing all the family court proceedings. Amazing people ! I am lucky i met Zayne at the early stages.
Read more -
John - Auckland Family Harmony Service
We have been stuck in the family court over 3 years. Although i and my former partner did not reach an agreement using FDSS. However, during my interactions with FDSS, i have gained alot of knowledge and understanding of the court perspective issues regarding the children. The joint sessions i have attended with my former parents were amazing. It helped me to clarify her position and concerns and made me sort out some issues, which i never knew they existed. The sessions we had were really good, where each of us were allowed to speak and express our emotions confidentially in a private setting. better than sitting in a room with lawyers and each of us worried to say something or speak freely because it might be taken against us in the court
Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
The Parental Conflict Support (PCS) Service is a community-led initiative that assists both separated parents in managing their parental conflict and empower parents with knowledge to make informed decisions.
The Parental Conflict Support (PCS) Service is a community-led initiative that assists both separated parents in managing their parental conflict and empower parents with knowledge to make informed decisions.
The PCS focuses on support to manage conflict and improve co-parenting relationships.
The Parental Conflict Support (PCS) Service is an informal process more focused on parental conflict resolution / reduction and concludes with minor dispute resolution, on the other side Mediation is more like a formal process focused on specific dispute/s not the parental conflict.
Based on our experience assisting parents with conflict resolution, addressing conflicts before disputes is essential. Trying to resolve a dispute amidst high parental conflict is similar to building a house on a shaky foundation. During our work with many parents, We’ve observed that once parents reduce or eliminate conflict, their disputes often resolve more effectivley without any intervention.
The PCS Coach guides both parents on effective methods to reduce or eliminate parental conflict, offering conflict coaching skills and guidance to facilitate resolution.
The PCS is designed for parents who are newly separated, in the process of separating, or involved in complex Family Court litigation
The PCS is conducted remotely via audio and video platforms, telephone, or in person where applicable. The PCS Coach facilitates communication between both parties to guide them towards resolution.
PCS is an informal, confidential, and private process that includes:
Individualized Conflict Coaching: Personalized sessions to help each parent manage conflict effectively.
Guidance and Knowledge Sharing: Providing strategies, tools, and insights for conflict prevention and effective communication.
Court Potential Outcomes: Offering insights into potential Family Court outcomes to explore solutions informally and avoid litigation.
PCS facilitates informal discussions and negotiations to resolve minor disputes. Complex disputes may be referred to Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) for further assistance.
Both parents have the option to register for the Ongoing Conflict Prevention (OCP) service, which aims to prevent future conflicts through continuous support and resources.
Court Possible Outcomes refer to the potential decisions and orders that the Family Court might make if a dispute is brought before it. At FDSS, we provide whānau with comprehensive insights into these outcomes, helping them explore potential solutions in a more informal and less adversarial setting. This guidance assists in making informed decisions about how to proceed. However, please note that this support and guidance is not legal advice. We are happy to provide case law precedents, psychological insights, and relevant literature to inform your decisions. For specific legal advice and representation, we recommend consulting a qualified legal professional.
Providing Court Possible Outcomes helps whānau explore potential solutions to their disputes in a more informal and less adversarial setting than the court. This approach can lead to more amicable and sustainable resolutions, potentially preventing years of court litigation, financial, and emotional hardship. It also helps mitigate parental conflict and reduces children’s exposure to it, promoting a healthier co-parenting journey.
Yes, the PCS is conducted in a confidential and private manner to ensure the privacy of both parents involved. No evidence to be used in the court.
The duration of PCS can vary depending on the complexity of the issues and the progress made by the parents. It is designed to be flexible to accommodate individual needs.
The PCS is facilitated by experienced Coaches who specialise in conflict resolution, mediation and extensive experience in the Family Court, providing guidance and support throughout the process.
PCS focuses on conflict resolution and effective communication strategies. For legal advice or representation, parents may be referred to appropriate legal professionals or services.
Yes, PCS is beneficial for all stages of separation and divorce, providing strategies to manage ongoing co-parenting challenges and conflicts.
To begin PCS, you can contact our service team to schedule an initial consultation and discuss your specific needs and goals.
The success of PCS often relies on both parents’ willingness to engage in the process. Our Coaches are skilled in facilitating constructive conversations and encouraging cooperation between parents.
The PCS services aims to address and mitigate parental conflicts effectively. For unresolved issues, further support or referral to additional services, such as mediation or legal counsel, may be recommended.
The OCP service offers continuous support and resources to help parents maintain effective communication and prevent future conflicts, ensuring a stable environment for their children.
The OCP service offers continuous support and resources to help parents maintain effective communication and prevent future conflicts, ensuring a stable environment for their children.