A new phone app is helping separated WA couples streamline communication and avoid lengthy and expensive family court battles.
'CoOperate' was developed by family and conflict resolution experts Lisanne Iriks and Sharyn Green-Arndt as a way to harness technology to assist families rather than cause problems.
It's been a game-changer for divorced mother of three Jenn Hammond.
"Mediation was the best option for us as a family to avoid the difficult process of going through the courts and come up with a plan that was best for our kids," Hammond said.
"I very quickly realised I was under so much pressure and I was so stressed and I had so many other competing priorities."
The app provides a platform for separated couples to communicate easily and securely, with all messages, shared calendars, location and expense tracking logged and easily accessible to courts and lawyers if necessary.
"We developed the CoOperate app to help people harness technology to assist them rather than cause problems," co-developer Green-Arndt said.
Co-developer Iriks explained that communicating solely through the app could mean "the rest of your phone is a safe place".
Hammond said the app meant "you're not constantly looking 'Where did I send this message?' or 'What did I say about who was doing what on what day?'"
The app costs $10 per month to subscribe and has already gained traction among Perth families.
Last year alone, the Family Court in Perth received over 5700 divorce applications and dealt with over 11,500 matters in total, with some cases taking months or even years to settle.
"Separation doesn't have to be harmful for kids. If you manage it well, it really doesn't have to have a detrimental impact," Iriks said.
