Gillespie and Gillespie

This matter concerned orders made by Judge Coker regarding the parenting arrangements for two children, X and Y. The dispute involved the mother and father of the children, and the court was required to determine the terms of their shared parental responsibility and the specific living arrangements for the children.

The court was tasked with establishing orders for equal shared parental responsibility concerning major long-term issues affecting the children, including their education, religious and cultural upbringing, health, name, significant changes to living arrangements, and participation in extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the court needed to define the practical mechanisms for consultation and decision-making between the parents, as well as the day-to-day care responsibilities. The court also had to determine a detailed schedule for the children's time with each parent, including during school terms, school holidays, and specific public holidays and birthdays, along with provisions for telephone communication.

In its reasoning, the court made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, mandating that the parents consult with each other on major decisions and keep each other informed of significant parenting issues. The court then set out a detailed schedule for the children's living arrangements, outlining alternating weeks during school terms and a week-about basis for school holidays, with specific provisions for Christmas. The orders also included arrangements for the children to spend time with the non-resident parent on Father's Day, Mother's Day, and their birthdays, and stipulated telephone communication protocols. Further orders addressed the children's schooling, ongoing counselling, and the mother's psychological and medical treatment, with provisions for an expert report and a conciliation conference to facilitate further agreement.