ANDRE & ANTON

The Federal Circuit Court of Australia, presided over by Purdon-Sully J, considered an application concerning the living arrangements and contact arrangements for a child, X, born in 2006. The dispute involved the mother and the father of the child, with the court ultimately making orders regarding the child's residence and the father's time with the child.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child and the nature and extent of the father's contact with the child. Additionally, the court addressed the need for supervised contact, the involvement of a Family Consultant to prepare a family report, and the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer to represent the child's interests in the proceedings. The court also considered the procedural steps necessary to facilitate these arrangements, including registration with a contact centre and the filing of affidavits.

In its reasoning, the court ordered that the child live with the mother. Contact between the child and the father was to be supervised, with specific provisions for the duration and frequency of contact, contingent on the availability of a contact centre. The court also directed the parties to register with a specified contact centre and for the father to bear the associated costs. Furthermore, the court ordered the preparation of a family report pursuant to section 62G of the *Family Law Act 1975*, outlining the matters the report should address, including the child's views, relevant statutory considerations under sections 60CC, 61DA, and 65DAA, and any other factors pertinent to the child's welfare. The court also mandated the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer and detailed the process for the lawyer to engage with the report writer and the Family Consultant. The matter was adjourned for further mention.