ANDERSEN & TONKS

In the matter of Andersen & Tonks, Judge Phipps of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for a child. The dispute involved the parents' arrangements for their child, X, born in 2014.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders regarding parental responsibility, the child's residence, and the nature and extent of the father's time and communication with the child. The court also considered the need for supervised contact, the father's participation in parenting programs, and the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer.

Judge Phipps ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the child and that the child live with the mother. The father was to be kept informed of decisions concerning major long-term issues. The father's time and communication with the child were to be supervised, initially at a children's contact service, with the father bearing the costs. Further orders stipulated that upon the father providing evidence of completing a post-separation parenting course, his supervised time would increase and vary in format. The father was also ordered to enrol in and complete a parenting skills course nominated by the Independent Children's Lawyer, and both parents were directed to engage in family therapy and a parenting orders program. Injunctions were put in place restraining both parents from denigrating each other in the child's presence. The Independent Children's Lawyer was granted liberty to provide certain documents to relevant parties and obtain reports from the contact service and a supervisor. The application was adjourned for an interim hearing.