GROTH & BANKS

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Thornton J in the Family Court of Australia. The proceedings involved the father and mother of a child, J, born in 2010. The dispute revolved around arrangements for J's living situation, parental responsibility, and time spent with each parent, including provisions for relocation and holiday arrangements.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of parenting orders concerning J's residence, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the detailed schedule for J's time with each parent. This included establishing arrangements for school terms, school holidays, and specific public holidays, as well as addressing the practicalities of relocation, school enrollment, and communication between the parents regarding J's well-being and education. The court also had to consider provisions for international travel and the management of J's passport.

By consent, the court ordered the discharge of all previous parenting orders, save for a declaration made on 11 June 2013. The parties were granted equal shared parental responsibility for J. J was ordered to live with the mother, who was permitted to relocate with J to Town D and enroll J in D Primary School. The court then set out a comprehensive schedule for J's time with the father, including alternate weekends during school terms, half of all school holidays, and specific arrangements for Father's Day, birthdays, and Christmas. Further orders addressed communication protocols, notification of illness or injury, access to medical and educational information, and provisions for overseas travel, including passport management and notice requirements. The court also made orders restraining the parties from denigrating each other in the child's presence and from discussing proceedings with the child. Finally, all extant applications were dismissed, and the matter was removed from the list of pending cases, with a fact sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravention of the orders attached.