Garner and Hunt

In the matter of *Garner and Hunt*, Forrest J considered parenting orders concerning the child H, born in 2002. The dispute involved the arrangements for the child's living situation, parental responsibility, and communication and time spent with each parent.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the allocation of parental responsibility for major long-term issues, and the specific arrangements for the child to spend time with and communicate with the father. Additionally, the court needed to consider the role of a psychologist in facilitating the child's therapeutic engagement with the father, as well as provisions for information sharing between the parents and restrictions on parental conduct.

Forrest J ordered that all previous parenting orders and plans be discharged. The child, H, was to live with the mother, who was granted sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues, subject to specific requirements to advise, seek input from, consider, and inform the father of decisions made. The mother was also ordered to facilitate the child's attendance at therapy with a psychologist to address her willingness to recommence communication and time with the father. Arrangements for the child to spend time with and communicate with the father were to be put in place only after therapeutic consultation commenced and the psychologist advised it was appropriate, following communication with both parents. The mother was to continue encouraging the child's engagement with the father, while the father was permitted to send letters, cards, and gifts. Both parents were restrained from denigrating each other to or in the hearing of the child. Further orders addressed the sharing of school reports, photographs, health information, residential and contact details, and relocation notification. The father was restricted from attending the child's school events unless invited. The Independent Children's Lawyer was to explain the orders to the child with the assistance of the psychologist, and would be discharged after the psychologist reported on the child's progress.