ANDREWS & LEWIS

In the matter of ANDREWS & LEWIS, Carew J of the Family Court of Australia considered a dispute between the mother and father concerning parental responsibility for their child, N. The proceedings involved applications relating to the child's health, medical treatment, and education, as well as the father's access to the children.

The primary legal issues before the court were the allocation of parental responsibility for significant decisions concerning N's health and education, and the extent to which the father should be restrained from seeking independent medical or therapeutic assessments of the children. The court was also required to determine the specific arrangements for the child's time with the father.

Carew J ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for health, medical treatment, and education decisions for N. However, this was subject to a process requiring the mother to consult with the father in writing, consider his response in light of the child's best interests, and then inform him of her ultimate decision. The court also issued an injunction restraining the father from obtaining health, medical, or counselling services for the children without the mother's written consent or a court order. The father was granted time with the child N on alternate weekends during school terms. The Independent Children's Lawyer was directed to explain the orders to the children.