Fitzroy and Fitzroy

This matter concerned an appeal from an order of the Family Court of Australia made on 6 October 2009. The parties involved were the father and the mother, and the dispute related to parenting arrangements for their two children, born in 2003 and 2005. The proceedings were heard in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders for the children, including issues of parental responsibility, living arrangements, and time spent with each parent. The court also needed to consider the role of a Family Consultant in providing advice and recommendations regarding the children's welfare and the parents' co-parenting relationship.

The court discharged the previous Family Court order and made new orders. It directed that the children be represented by an Independent Children's Lawyer and attend an appointment with a Family Consultant. The court ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility for long-term issues, to be decided jointly. The children were to live with the father, who was to facilitate daily contact with the mother via telephone or video call. Specific arrangements were outlined for the children to spend time with the mother, including weekends, school holidays, Christmas, Mother's Day, birthdays, and the children's birthdays, with provisions for travel costs and changeovers. The court also made orders regarding the children's schooling, prohibiting denigration of either parent, and excusing compliance with section 60I of the Family Law Act 1975. The matter was adjourned for mention.