Dunbar and Dunbar (No 3)

This matter concerned orders made by consent between the mother and father regarding their three children. The dispute involved arrangements for the children's living arrangements, parental responsibility, and contact with the mother, as well as property and other ancillary matters. Young J presided over the proceedings in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of consent orders governing the children's lives. These included establishing where the children would live, the nature of parental responsibility to be shared between the parents, and the conditions under which the mother would have contact with the children. Further issues to be resolved by the orders related to the former matrimonial home, the mother's treatment, the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer and Case Guardian, and the release of various reports and records. The court also needed to address the children's passports, communication between the mother and children, and restrictions on the mother's proximity to the children's activities and the former matrimonial home.

The court's reasoning was based on the consent of the parties, as evidenced by the orders made. The orders reflect a comprehensive approach to the children's welfare, with provisions for their living arrangements, education, health, and contact with both parents. Specific conditions were imposed on the mother's contact, requiring supervised arrangements and evidence of her managing any medical or psychiatric conditions to ensure the children's safety. The court also made orders concerning the former matrimonial home, the mother's treatment, and the appointment and role of the Independent Children's Lawyer and Case Guardian. The orders included provisions for the release of information and records relevant to the children's care and well-being, and placed the children on an Airport Watch List.

By consent, the court ordered that the children live with the father and that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility, with specific exceptions for schooling and immediate health requirements until 31 December 2011. The mother's contact with the children was to be supervised, with provisions for an increase in unsupervised time upon satisfaction of certain conditions regarding her health. The father was granted sole use and occupation of the former matrimonial home, and the mother was restrained from attending certain locations. The court also made orders regarding the mother's treatment, the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer and Case Guardian, the release of reports, and communication between the mother and children. All previous orders were discharged, and extant applications were dismissed.