Gorman and Gorman & Anor

In the matter of *Gorman and Gorman & Anor*, Gill J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the care, welfare, and development of a child, B. The proceedings involved Ms Gorman (the applicant), Mr Gorman (the respondent father), and Ms Fuller (the respondent mother). The core dispute revolved around interim orders for the child, particularly regarding with whom the child would live and the allocation of parental responsibility, with a significant focus on the need to protect the child from harm.

The court was required to determine whether the applicant, Ms Gorman, should be declared a person concerned with the child's care, welfare, or development. Furthermore, the court needed to consider the best interests of the child, including the necessity of protecting the child from harm, in making interim orders. This involved assessing the roles and responsibilities of the non-parent applicant and the parents, and the potential need for intervention from state child protection agencies.

Gill J applied principles under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) to address the complex issues. The court declared Ms Gorman a person concerned with the child's welfare and requested the intervention of the ACT Community Services Directorate and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. Orders were made for these agencies to provide all relevant documents concerning notifications of suspected abuse or family violence involving the child, with provisions for protecting the identity of notifiers. An Independent Children’s Lawyer was appointed for the child, and directions were given for a Child Dispute Conference. Ultimately, the court made interim orders granting the applicant sole parental responsibility for the child, with specific communication requirements for the father regarding the child's health and day care arrangements.