Building a Strong Co-Parenting Foundation: Carlos and Anna’s Story
Like many new parents navigating separation, they were facing a complex mix of emotions and challenges.
When Carlos* and Anna* separated in 2021, their daughter Evie was just four months old.
Like many new parents navigating separation, they were facing a complex mix of emotions and challenges. Both had experienced mental health issues and struggles with alcohol and substance use, making the path ahead uncertain, not just for themselves, but for their young daughter.
A few months after separating, Carlos and Anna connected with CatholicCare Victoria’s Geelong Family Relationship Centre to begin working through parenting arrangements.
A shared focus from the start
From their very first Family Dispute Resolution session, something stood out.
Despite the difficulties they had faced, both Carlos and Anna showed a clear, shared focus: Evie’s wellbeing.
They approached conversations with respect, even when things were hard. They listened to one another. Most importantly, they were committed to creating safe and supportive environments for their daughter in both homes.
Navigating setbacks with support
Rather than letting setbacks define their journey, Carlos and Anna continued to engage with support. Together, they agreed to take practical steps to strengthen stability for Evie, including drug testing and ongoing mental health support where needed.
Choosing to keep showing up
Over the next four years, they returned to Family Dispute Resolution regularly, about every six months, to revisit arrangements, work through challenges, and keep communication focused on what mattered most: being the best parents they could be.
Outside of sessions, they found ways to reduce conflict by keeping communication structured and purposeful. They used the Talking Parents app to stay connected and relied on mediation when more complex conversations arose.
Session by session, they built something that can be hard to achieve after separation: trust, consistency, and a shared parenting approach.
Building a new normal
By their seventh Family Dispute Resolution session, Carlos and Anna were ready to formalise a shared care arrangement, with Evie spending 7 days each fortnight with each parent.
A moment that mattered
In January 2026, they reached an important milestone.
Evie started her first day of school with Carlos and Anna both there to support her.
It was a moment that reflected just how far they had come as co-parents.
A strong foundation for the future
With the support of CCV’s Family Dispute Resolution team, Carlos and Anna have built a strong foundation of respectful co-parenting. Today, Evie continues to grow up with the care, stability, and connection of both her parents, across two homes.
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) mediation supports separating families with an alternative to court proceedings for resolving parenting challenges, property, financial and other disputes, with a focus on the needs of children.
FDR is predominately for parents but may include others who have been significantly involved in the child’s life.
