Family Court Rules 2002, rule 416Y
The purpose of a settlement conference is to try to reach an agreement so that a court hearing isn’t necessary.
The judge will run the conference. You can ask to bring a support person with you.
If the conference does resolve the dispute (or some of the disputed issues), the judge can make a Consent Order, which is a court order that turns what you’ve agreed into an order that can be enforced by the court. The consent order must then be obeyed like any other court order.
If you and the other person can’t agree, the judge will order the case to go to a court hearing (or order Family Dispute Resolution).