GILMORE & RAY

In the matter of Gilmore & Ray, Stevenson J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for two children, N and C. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children following separation of their parents.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate orders for the children's residence, time spent with each parent, and parental responsibility, considering the best interests of N and C. The orders reflect a phased approach to the children's time with the father, commencing with supervised contact and gradually increasing to unsupervised overnight stays, with specific provisions for holidays and changeovers.

Stevenson J applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), particularly focusing on the paramount consideration of the children's best interests. The detailed schedule of time spent with the father, including the requirement for supervision by paternal grandparents in the initial stages and the provision for their overnight presence, indicates a careful consideration of the children's welfare and the need for a supportive environment during contact. The court also incorporated provisions regarding the consequences of contravening the orders, as permitted by sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the Act.

The court ordered that all existing orders regarding the children be discharged. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility, and the children were ordered to live with her. The father was granted specific, progressively increasing periods of time with the children, subject to various conditions, including supervision and the execution of undertakings by the paternal grandparents. The orders also stipulated the venue for changeovers and the return of subpoenaed material.