Gomez and Banks

This matter came before Foster J concerning the welfare of a child, B, born in 2009. The dispute involved the arrangements for the child's living situation and contact with the Father. The court was tasked with determining appropriate interim orders to ensure the child's best interests were met pending further proceedings.

The central legal issues before the court were the determination of the child's primary residence and the establishment of a framework for supervised contact between the child and the Father. The court also needed to consider the practicalities and conditions under which such contact would occur, including the role of a contact centre and the financial responsibilities of the parties. Furthermore, the court had to address potential contingencies, such as the contact centre's inability to provide services or the need for expert assessment.

Foster J ordered that the child, B, would live with the Mother pending further order. The court mandated that both parties engage with a designated Contact Centre to arrange and undergo assessments for supervised time with the Father. The Father was to have contact with the child twice weekly at the Contact Centre, supervised by its staff, with the Father bearing the reasonable costs of this supervision. The orders also stipulated strict protocols for the parties' conduct at the Contact Centre, including prompt arrival and departure, and compliance with the centre's rules and staff directions. Provisions were made for the Independent Children's Lawyer to relist the matter if the Contact Centre was unable or unwilling to provide supervision, or if the parties agreed to vary the orders.