Efstathiou and Efstathiou

In the matter of Efstathiou and Efstathiou, Dessau J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and time spent with the children of the relationship, D and G. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children following the separation of their parents.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, the nature of parental responsibility, and the specific arrangements for the children to spend time with each parent. Additionally, the court considered provisions for communication between parents and children, the sharing of information regarding the children's education and health, and the undertaking of parenting courses. The court also addressed the issue of denigration of a parent in the presence of the children and the discharge of the Independent Children's Lawyer.

Dessau J ordered that the children shall live with the wife and that the parties shall have equal shared parental responsibility. Detailed provisions were made for the children to spend time with the father, including alternate weekends, specific periods during school holidays, and on certain public holidays and birthdays. The orders also stipulated that each parent must permit the children to contact the other parent, with specific limitations on the mother's telephone contact during the father's weekend time. The court further ordered that the mother authorise the release of school information to the father at his expense, that both parents undertake parenting courses, and that neither parent denigrate the other in the presence of the children. Provisions were also made for immediate notification of serious injury or illness concerning the children, and the court incorporated details of obligations, consequences of contravention, and assistance resources into the orders via a Fact Sheet. Finally, the appointment of the Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.