Anstey & Leeds

In the matter of *Anstey & Leeds*, heard before Judge Obradovic, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for a young child. The proceedings were undefended as against the father, Mr Anstey. The core of the dispute involved serious allegations of family violence and the assessment of risk to the child.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, specifically whether the mother, Ms Leeds, should have sole parental responsibility, whether the child should live with the mother, and crucially, whether the child should spend any time with the father. Additionally, the court needed to consider appropriate orders for the mother's ongoing engagement with health professionals and support services.

Judge Obradovic ordered that the respondent mother, Ms Leeds, have sole parental responsibility for the child, who was born in 2015. The child was ordered to live with the mother and to spend no time with the applicant father, Mr Anstey. The court further ordered that the mother continue to attend her treating General Practitioner at intervals of no less than three months for mental health check-ups and medication compliance. Within seven days of the orders, the mother was also required to engage with B Family Centre for assessment and intake, and to continue engagement as determined by the centre. The Independent Children’s Lawyer was directed to provide a copy of these orders to the mother's General Practitioner and B Family Centre within seven days.