Godwin and Winters

This matter concerned an application before Hogan J concerning the parenting arrangements for three children. The primary dispute revolved around the living arrangements for the children and the allocation of parental responsibility for significant long-term issues. The court was also required to consider contraventions of previous orders by the mother.

The legal issues before the court included determining where the children would live, whether the parents would share equal responsibility for major long-term decisions concerning the children's education, religious and cultural upbringing, health, and living arrangements that might impact their time with each parent. Additionally, the court had to establish a detailed schedule for the children to spend time with the father, including provisions for school holidays and birthdays, and address the mother's contravention of prior court orders.

Hogan J ordered by consent that the children live with the mother and that both parents have equal shared parental responsibility for major long-term issues. The court then set out a comprehensive schedule for the children to spend time with the father, detailing specific arrangements for weekends, school holidays, and birthdays, with provisions for notice and communication between the parents. The court also found that the mother had contravened previous orders without reasonable excuse and, pursuant to the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), ordered that she enter into a bond for 12 months requiring her to be of good behaviour and comply with the court's orders. All outstanding applications were dismissed, and the Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.