Arunya and Dobson

In the District Court of New South Wales, Judge Faulks DCJ heard an appeal by Ms Arunya against final orders made by Magistrate Bone on 21 December 2009 concerning the living arrangements and parental responsibility for three children. The dispute centred on the children's residence and the allocation of decision-making authority between their parents.

The court was required to determine the appropriate living arrangements for the children, L, A, and P, and to decide on the extent of parental responsibility to be held by each parent. This included determining who would have the ultimate say in principal matters concerning the children's upbringing, such as their schooling.

Judge Faulks DCJ allowed the appeal, finding that the existing orders were not in the children's best interests. The court ordered that the children would live with their mother, Ms Arunya, from 20 February 2010. The father, Mr Dobson, was granted time with the children on every second weekend and the first half of school holidays, with specific collection and return arrangements detailed. Furthermore, the mother was granted sole parental responsibility, with the caveat that she must consult with the father on principal matters. The matter was remitted for a Less Adversarial Trial for further determination.