Hall and Hall (No 4)

In the matter of *Hall and Hall (No 4)*, Berman J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications concerning the supervision of children during time spent with their father and a request for additional time with the children. The primary dispute revolved around the appointment of an independent supervisor, with the parties agreeing on an organisation but not a specific individual. The mother also opposed the father's application for extra time with the children due to holiday plans, arguing it was not in their best interests.

The court was required to determine whether an organisation or an individual was intended to be agreed upon for supervision, and to make orders for the appointment of a supervisor from an agreed organisation. Additionally, the court had to assess whether the father's request for additional mid-week time with the children was consistent with their best interests, particularly in light of holiday arrangements.

Berman J reasoned that while the parties had agreed on an organisation, the specific supervisor needed to be appointed. The court ordered the appointment of a supervisor from the agreed organisation, HD Care, prioritising specific individuals. The father was to bear the costs of the supervisor, and communication with the supervisor was to be direct. The court also addressed the father's request for additional time, granting one additional Sunday with the children but suspending other time with the father during a specific holiday period, finding that further mid-week time was not in the children's best interests. The applications filed by the parties were dismissed.