Dupont and Unwin

This matter came before Bennett J concerning a dispute between the applicant, Ms. Unwin, and the respondent, Ms. Dupont, regarding their child. The court's orders indicate a focus on facilitating mediation and ensuring the child's welfare and contact arrangements.

The primary legal issues before the court involved determining the procedural steps necessary for the parties to engage in mediation, specifically through Victoria Legal Aid's Round Table Mediation Conference. The court also had to address the practical arrangements for supervised child contact, including the provision of necessary reports and information to facilitate mediation, and to resolve potential conflicts arising from the respondent's work roster.

Bennett J directed that the matter be listed for mention to check readiness for trial or mediation. Crucially, the court authorised the Independent Children’s Lawyer to provide specific documents, including family reports and transcripts, to Victoria Legal Aid to facilitate the mediation application. The court also made orders concerning the respondent's work roster and how to manage missed contact time due to work commitments, aiming to ensure the child's time with the applicant was maintained. Further directions were given for obtaining a report on supervised time and for the parties to notify the Independent Children’s Lawyer of a workplace relations complaint. The court also reserved the issue of whether the parties would attend mediation for determination on the adjourned date.