Hadcraft and Hadcraft

This matter concerned parenting orders for children X and Y, born in 2005 and 2007 respectively, between their parents, Mr Hadcraft (the father) and Ms Hadcraft (the mother). The court was required to determine the future parenting arrangements for the children, including where they would live, who would have parental responsibility for long-term issues, and the nature and extent of contact between the children and each parent.

The court was tasked with determining the primary caregiver for the children and the allocation of parental responsibility for major long-term issues. Furthermore, the court needed to establish a framework for the children's reintroduction to the mother's care, considering a period of no contact and therapeutic interventions for both the mother and the children. The court also had to address communication, information sharing, and the practicalities of changeovers between parents.

In its decision, the court discharged all previous orders and parenting plans. It ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for the major long-term issues concerning the children and that the children live with the father. A three-month moratorium was imposed on any time or communication between the mother and the children, during which time the father was to arrange for the children, himself, and the mother to engage with the Family Bridges program. The mother was also ordered to attend therapeutic counselling. Following the moratorium and successful reintroduction facilitated by the Family Bridges program, a phased schedule for the children spending time with the mother was set out, along with provisions for ongoing communication and information sharing between the parents. The court also made orders regarding changeovers, parental conduct, and the provision of information to schools and health practitioners.