Eale and Dandridge

In the matter of Eale and Dandridge, heard before Judge Scarlett, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for the child X. The Applicant Father sought orders for time with the child, which the Respondent Mother contested.

The court was required to determine the nature and extent of the time the Father should spend with the child, the conditions under which this time should occur, and the responsibilities of each parent in facilitating these arrangements. Key issues included the need for supervision of contact, the role of external agencies, and the communication protocols between the parties.

Judge Scarlett made orders for supervised contact between the Father and child X at a designated Children's Contact Centre. Initially, contact was to be for two hours per month for three months, escalating thereafter to two hours per fortnight. The Father was to bear all associated costs. The Mother was directed to facilitate the child's attendance and to inform the child of the Father's identity. Both parents were ordered to attend interviews for a Family Report under section 62G of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The matter was adjourned with liberty to restore on seven days' notice.