Bakal and Kapicic

In the matter of *Bakal and Kapicic*, heard before Dawe J, the proceedings concerned a dispute between the parents regarding their child, Andre. The court was required to consider various aspects of the child's welfare, including his urinary incontinence, psychological well-being, and dental treatment, as well as the return of another child, B, to the mother.

The legal issues before the court included whether the Minister for the Department for Education and Child Development - Families SA should be invited to intervene in the proceedings, and if not, to provide a representative to explain the Minister's position. The court also had to determine the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer in making recommendations and decisions regarding specialist treatment for Andre, and to address the father's obligation to return child B to the mother. Furthermore, the court considered the filing and service of affidavit material and amended applications, and the dismissal of an application filed by the mother.

Dawe J directed that the Minister be invited to intervene and, failing intervention, to send a representative to explain the Minister's position. The court ordered that information filed since the previous consent orders, including a Family Report and a previous judgment, be made available to the Minister. The Independent Children's Lawyer was directed to confer with the parties and make recommendations for specialist treatment for Andre, with the power to make the final decision if the parents could not agree. The father was ordered to return child B to the mother by a specified date and time at a police station, with existing orders remaining in place. The court also set deadlines for the filing and service of further affidavit material and amended applications, requiring specific details of sought orders. Finally, the application in a case filed by the mother on 26 June 2014 was dismissed.