Galloway and Steele

In the matter of *Galloway and Steele*, heard before Fowler J, the court considered an application concerning the parenting arrangements for the child, J. The dispute involved the father and the mother, who sought to establish orders regarding their respective responsibilities and the child's time with each parent.

The court was required to determine the extent of equal shared parental responsibility for major long-term decisions, the primary residence of the child, and the specific time the child would spend with each parent. Further issues included the supervision of the child's time with the mother, the need for counselling for both parents, and the preparation of updated reports to assess the child's welfare and the parents' capacities. The court also addressed the child's surname and the provision of assistance for compliance with the orders.

Fowler J made orders establishing equal shared parental responsibility for major long-term decisions, with a structured process for resolving disagreements. The child was ordered to live with the father. Initially, the child's time with the mother was to be supervised, with the mother bearing the costs. Both parents were ordered to attend counselling, and the Independent Children's Lawyer was granted leave to provide relevant reports to the psychologists. The court also ordered an updated report from a consultant after eight months, followed by a review conference, to inform future parenting arrangements. Subsequent orders detailed a phased increase in the child's time with the mother, including specific arrangements for holidays and birthdays, and provisions for communication between parents and the child. The child's surname was ordered to be "Steele-Galloway," and the child was removed from a watch list by consent. Finally, a Family Consultant was appointed to assist parties with compliance for 12 months, and the Independent Children's Lawyer's application for costs was listed for mention.