Key Takeaways
- Quality co‑parenting courses help separated parents reduce conflict, improve communication, and prioritise their children’s emotional needs.
- Programs like Parenting After Separation, Parents Not Partners, Relationship Matters, and Triple P Family Transitions are available online and in person across NSW.
- These courses often involve facilitated group sessions, self-paced learning, videos, role-play, and reflection exercises to help parents develop practical strategies.
- Participating in a course can be court-mandated or voluntary, and some offer certificates of completion accepted by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia..
- Choosing the right program—based on your location, delivery mode, cost, and your child’s age—ensures you get valuable tools to navigate separation together.
Co-parenting after separation can be challenging, but you’re not alone. Parenting courses tailored for separated or divorcing families offer a proven path to better communication, shared decision-making, and most importantly, stronger support for your children.
Why Co‑Parenting Courses Matter
Research shows that structured co‑parenting programs help reduce conflict, ease children’s stress, and build positive relationships post-separation. A focus on the child’s wellbeing, and practical tools to manage communication, can make all the difference.
Courts may also require attendance in a court-approved program like Parenting After Separation, with certificates of completion helping demonstrate commitment to a child-focused approach.
Popular Programs in NSW
Parenting After Separation
Offered by Relationships Australia NSW, this six-week workshop helps parents reduce conflict and make child-centred decisions. Sessions are online or in-person, with group sizes of 10–12 and a sliding-scale fee.
Parents Not Partners
One of the most popular offerings from Interrelate, this six-week program focuses on healthy boundaries, emotion management, and effective communication. Facilitated by counsellors, it supports separated parents in building a cooperative parenting relationship.
Parenting After Separation – Relationship Matters
A short, two-session online course, it delivers practical strategies via Zoom with trained facilitators. Ideal for parents needing quick and targeted support.
New Families – Uniting
New Families is a six-session program designed to support separated parents in understanding and responding to the emotional and behavioural impacts of separation on their children. Tailored to each family’s needs, the program helps parents:
- Recognise and support their child’s emotional reactions
- Understand the psychological impact of separation
- Adapt their parenting strategies post-separation
- Develop consistent parenting approaches across households
- Respond to children’s evolving developmental needs
- Manage their own emotional reactions to better support their child
- Learn techniques to reduce and manage conflict
The goal is to enhance the child’s adjustment and improve co-parenting relationships after separation.
What You’ll Learn
Most co‑parenting courses include:
- Healthy conflict management: keeping disagreements constructive and child-focused.
- Communication techniques: listening skills, boundary-setting, and clear dialogue.
- Understanding children’s emotional needs: helping children feel safe and supported throughout change.
- Collaborative parenting tools: shared schedules, co-created routines, and consistency across homes.
Hands-on tools, such as role-plays, quizzes, video clips, and downloadable workbooks, make the lessons both practical and engaging.
Bringing Skills Home
Completing a co‑parenting program is just the start. Success comes from applying newfound skills: staying calm under pressure, sticking to shared parenting plans, and communicating openly about changes in scheduling or children’s needs. Inconsistency often leads to friction, but practical tools keep your focus on what matters most.
Take the Next Step
If separation has affected your parenting dynamics, consider enrolling in a co‑parenting course today. With options across NSW, both online and in person, you can reduce conflict, build shared strategies, and give your children a stable, supportive environment to thrive. Your family and future will thank you.
Always seek professional legal advice to guide you through the complex field of family law. The Family Law team at Berryman Partners are here to help. Book a confidential consultation today.
This blog was written by Senior Associate,
Liz McIntyre
Liz practises in the areas of Family Law, Wills & Estate Planning,
Deceased Estates, Wills disputes and Conveyancing
