COBURN & GARNER

In the matter of *Coburn & Garner*, Ms Coburn sought final parenting orders by consent with one exception, concerning the presence of the mother at child changeovers. The dispute before Bennett J of the Family Court of Australia centred on whether the mother should be restrained from attending changeovers at the children's school, given her employment there. The court considered the best interests of the children, the high level of parental conflict, and the psychological wellbeing of the children in determining this issue.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant an injunction restraining the mother from being present at school changeovers. This was framed within the overarching consideration of the children's best interests, particularly in circumstances of high parental conflict and concerns for the children's psychological wellbeing. The court also noted that the desirability of avoiding further proceedings could not be addressed due to the narrow scope of the dispute.

Bennett J reasoned that, in light of the high parental conflict and the potential negative impact on the children's psychological wellbeing, it was in the children's best interests to grant the injunction. The court applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) concerning the paramountcy of the children's best interests in parenting matters. Consequently, the court ordered that the mother be restrained by injunction from being present at changeovers at the children's school. The parties consented to a comprehensive set of final parenting orders, detailing shared parental responsibility, living arrangements, communication, holiday schedules, and travel provisions, with specific provisions for the children's passports and interstate and international travel.