Brunton and Hirst (No. 2)

In *Brunton and Hirst (No. 2)*, Young J of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning a child, D, born in September 2002. The dispute involved the mother and father, and the court was tasked with determining the future living arrangements and parental responsibility for D, as well as addressing the impact of the parental dispute on the child.

The court was required to determine the primary caregiver for D, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the necessary steps to address D's emotional and psychological well-being in light of the parental conflict. Furthermore, the court needed to consider the father's future involvement with D, including issues of time spent together and communication, and to make orders regarding counselling and parenting education for the mother.

Young J discharged all previous parenting orders and ordered that D live with the mother, who was granted sole parental responsibility. The mother was directed to ensure D attended counselling to address the impact of the parental dispute, with the counsellor to be recommended by her general practitioner. The mother was also ordered to complete a parenting course and attend confidential counselling herself. The father was invited to keep the mother informed of his contact details, and the issues of the father spending time with and communicating with D were wholly reserved. The court also continued a previous order regarding paragraph 7 of the orders made on 30 March 2007 and discharged the order for the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer. The court further specified the particulars of the obligations and consequences of contravention of these orders pursuant to sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the *Family Law Act 1975*. All extant applications were dismissed, and hearing dates were vacated.