Hemiro & Sinla

In the matter of *Hemiro & Sinla*, Brown J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and time spent with the child of the marriage. The dispute centred on arrangements for the child, born in April 2003, following previous court orders and an undertaking given by the husband.

The court was required to determine the specific arrangements for the child's residence, time spent with each parent, and communication between the parents and the child. This included establishing a detailed schedule for the child's time with the husband, encompassing weekends, school holidays, birthdays, and significant holidays like Christmas and Easter, with particular attention to the observance of Coptic Easter. The court also had to address the supervision of the husband's time with the child, restrictions on his involvement in certain personal care activities, and protocols for changeovers between parents.

Brown J's reasoning led to orders that discharged previous arrangements and granted the wife sole parental responsibility, with the child to live with her. The court then meticulously outlined a comprehensive schedule for the child to spend time with the husband, incorporating specific dates and alternating periods, with detailed provisions for holidays and special occasions. Further orders imposed restrictions on the husband's access to the child during changeovers and prohibited him from accessing or exposing the child to pornography. The court also established communication protocols, including telephone calls and written correspondence, and mandated the use of a communication book. Provisions were also made for the husband to obtain school reports and attend school events, with reciprocal restrictions on the wife attending school changeovers unless for specific events. The court also made orders regarding the disclosure of information about the child's health and any counselling or treatment, with specific limitations on the wife's ability to seek such interventions without the husband's consent, except in cases of alleged sexual abuse investigated by authorities.

The final orders discharged all previous orders and injunctions relating to the child, released the husband from his undertaking, and established the wife's sole parental responsibility. The child was ordered to live with the wife, with a detailed schedule for the child to spend time with the husband. Additional orders addressed communication, information sharing, and specific restrictions and liberties for each parent concerning the child's welfare and schooling. The court also directed that a fact sheet be annexed to the orders and made provisions for the return and copying of exhibits.