EDMONSON & ALBAUGH

In a recovery application concerning a four-year-old child, the father resided in City B and the mother in Darwin. The child was living with the father without any court orders. The father had accompanied the child to spend time with the mother during school holidays, and the court considered further consideration of the situation to be appropriate.

The court was required to determine the living arrangements for the child and the extent of time the child would spend with each parent. Additionally, the court needed to consider the appropriate method for serving legal documentation on the respondent and the necessity of obtaining information from the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (Qld) regarding any abuse allegations or investigations concerning the child. The court also had to address the process for obtaining further information from the Department and the attendance of the parties and other children at a child-inclusive conference.

Judge Young ordered that, until further order, the child would live with the mother and spend time with the father as agreed by the parties. The court also directed that the respondent could be served through her legal representative. The respondent was ordered to file and serve a response, affidavit, and notice of risk within seven days. Pursuant to section 69ZW of the *Family Law Act 1975*, the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (Qld) was directed to provide the court with copies of any notifications, assessments, investigations, and outcomes related to abuse allegations concerning the child. The court also stipulated that no further subpoenas were to be served on the Department without leave. Furthermore, pursuant to section 11F of the *Family Law Act 1975*, the parties and two other children were ordered to attend a child-inclusive conference with a Family Consultant on 31 August 2020, to be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Following this conference, the Family Consultant was to provide brief advice to the court regarding agreed issues, disputed issues, and recommendations for interim or procedural orders. The matter was adjourned to 4 September 2020 for mention.