Additional Info

Mediation practice name

Barter Mckellar

Website

www.bartermckellar.law/

Mobile number

0814693396

LinkedIn profile

www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-mckellar-b9b15419a/

Facebook profile

Instagram profile

Date mediation accreditation obtained

2009

Experience

Family mediation, Divorce mediation, Parenting plans, Community mediation

Short bio

My philosophy is to remind all involved in parental separation, that a family is for life, whereas a court case is costly and eventually ends. I have been a Family Law practitioner for 17 years. I served my articles in the 1980's at a large divorce practice, then as a prosecutor in the Maintenance Court for four years and from 2010 to June 2025 as a magistrate in the Maintenance and Children's Court. My experience in the 1980's appalled me and I questioned the system of protracted hostile litigation. I trained with FAMAC in 2009 and realised I had found the better way to help parents to separate without destroying the family and keeping their children's best interests front and centre. I established a pro bono mediation programme whilst on the bench to do just that, because about 90 percent of my cases involved impoverished families. (https://innovatingjusticeforum.hiil.org/speakers/gabriela-mckellar/). This project is now called 'for the children's sake' and continues provide mediation to families who need it. I completed a Masters with the International Institute for Restorative Practices (https://www.iirp.edu/) which further deepened my understanding of how to work with families to resolve conflict. My approach is to try to support parents in their responsibility to preserve and encourage their relationship with both parents and their families where this is in the child's best interests.

Business card or photo