CHARD & YONG

This matter concerned orders made by consent between the Mother and the Father regarding their child, X. The dispute centred on parental responsibility, time spent with the child, and communication between the parents.

The court was required to determine the terms of parenting orders, including vacating previous orders, granting the Mother sole parental responsibility, and establishing specific conditions and limitations on the Father's time with and communication with X. The orders also addressed the Father's obligation to attend therapy, provide documentation to therapists, and the process for transitioning from supervised to unsupervised time with X.

The court's reasoning, as reflected in the consent orders, prioritised the child's wellbeing and the establishment of a structured and therapeutic approach to the Father's involvement. Key principles applied included the paramountcy of the child's best interests, the importance of parental responsibility, and the use of therapeutic interventions to facilitate a safe and consistent relationship between the Father and X. The orders detailed a phased approach to the Father spending time with X, commencing with supervised visits and gradually progressing to unsupervised time, contingent upon the Father's engagement with therapy and demonstrated consistency.

By consent, the court ordered the vacation of all previous orders concerning X. The Mother was granted sole parental responsibility. The Father was ordered to attend therapy and undergo a specified number of sessions before commencing supervised time with X, with a clear pathway outlined for the eventual transition to unsupervised time, subject to ongoing therapeutic engagement and reports. The Mother was also to ensure X receives ongoing therapeutic support.