ABDUL & FARAH

In the matter of ABDUL & FARAH, Judge Obradovic of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting arrangements for two children, X (born 2009) and Y (born 2011). The dispute involved allegations of family violence and the risk of harm to the children, leading to a determination regarding the children's time with their father and a change of their surname.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, specifically in relation to the level of parental responsibility to be afforded to each parent, the living arrangements for the children, the extent of time the children would spend with the father, and whether to permit a change of the children's surname from Abdul to Farah. The court also had to consider the implications of family violence allegations on these arrangements and the need for protective orders.

Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), particularly concerning the best interests of the child, the court found it necessary to grant the mother sole parental responsibility and order that the children live with her. The court also ordered a phased increase in the father's time with the children over a twelve-month period, commencing with limited supervised contact, and imposed significant injunctions restraining the father from communicating with the mother and children, attending at their residences or schools, and denigrating the mother. Furthermore, the court ordered that the children's surname be changed to Farah, authorising the mother to register this change and directing that she be the sole person with parental responsibility for passport applications.