Services for Individuals
Supervised Contact
Building Bridges supports families to develop and maintain positive relationships between children and their non-resident family members, while ensuring the child’s safety remains paramount. Supervised contact provides an opportunity to rebuild relationships, strengthen understanding, and build confidence for all participants.
Supervised contact is offered in a range of circumstances. This may include situations where it has been determined that a child has experienced, or may be at risk of experiencing, harm during contact, or where concerns have been raised.
All contact visits are closely overseen by an experienced and impartial supervisor.
Supervisors are primarily observers but will intervene when necessary to address inappropriate behaviour or conversations, and to provide guidance and support during visits if needed.
Wherever possible, the same supervisor attends each visit to promote consistency, stability, and trust for the child.
Observations from these sessions, along with formal reports, contribute to family and court decision-making processes.
Supported Contact
Supported contact may be introduced as a progression from supervised contact, where it is mutually agreed by all parties that a lower level of oversight is appropriate.
In this arrangement, the supervisor remains present with the parent and child but takes a less directive role. The focus is on ensuring the child feels safe, comfortable, and supported, while allowing for more natural interaction. The supervisor does not necessarily monitor all conversations but remains available to provide guidance or intervene if required.
Educational Contact
We continue to support the protection and safety of the participants, but also add interventions that provide information and support to improve a parent’s parenting skills. This level of supervision includes using parent education as well as skill-building activities during, prior to and after the visit and may lead to an improved parent/child relationship. Educational services would need to be agreed to by both participants.
Supervised/ Assisted handover
Our handover service is limited to the supervision of the transfer of children between parents (or other family members). This can be where the child is visiting with the non-residential parent or where the parents have a shared care arrangement. The remainder of the time the child spends with either parent is unsupervised.
It allows children to spend time with a non-resident parent or other family member without witnessing, or fearing exposure to, parental conflict. It is a child-focused approach that also supports the safety of a parent protected by a Violence Restraining Order.
Handover arrangements can take place at a time and location agreed upon by all parties, or at one of our designated handover locations throughout Perth. A parent or family member places the child in the care of a Building Bridges supervisor, after which the other parent collects the child.
This structured approach removes the need for direct contact between parties in high-conflict situations and ensures the visit remains focused on the child’s wellbeing.
Direct work with children
Sometimes it is appropriate that preparation work is carried out with children and one of our supervisors
Especially when children have had a long gap from seeing that parent or when a childs last memories of a parent make it difficult for them to envisage visits.
Building Bridges can work professionally in a planned way with vulnerable children.
It may also be useful for a child to have a session with a supervisor after visits have started if issues arise.
Visit reports
Building Bridges provide a combined report for up to eight visits or subject to Court Order requirements. Supervisors can prepare a report after each visit if requested, or if following assessment as necessary. These reports will document relevant discussion, observations by the supervisor during the visit. Reports can be tailored to family needs and this will be discussed during intake and assessment. Reports can be issued on request by either party.
Reports will be sent to both parties. Building Bridges will issue the report within seven working days once payment has been received. Please note that if you have one or more supervisors supervising your visits each supervisor will provide a report of their observations
Coaching, Case Coordination and Social Work
Our qualified and experienced social workers can act as case coordinators, coaches, and counsellors. Based on assessed need, we work alongside clients to provide support during difficult periods and assist families in navigating the complexities of the family law system where children are involved.
Our approach is child-focused, with an emphasis on achieving practical and sustainable outcomes for families.
We offer non-legal strategic and emotional support, including assistance with:
- Preparing documentation
- Managing communication between parties
- Developing co-parenting and child-focused parenting plans
- Setting goals and managing expectations
- Reducing stress and improving emotional well-being
- Establishing clear and practical boundaries to reduce conflict and improve family functioning
Mediation
Building Bridges will expand its services in late 2026 to include Family Dispute Resolution and Family Court Case Coordination.
