HIJAZ & JESSUP

The parties to this matter were HIJAZ and JESSUP, concerning their child, T. The dispute involved orders relating to the child's living arrangements, parental responsibility, and time spent with each parent. The decision was made by Faulks DCJ.

The court was required to determine the interim parenting orders for T, including where he would live, who would have parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of his time with his mother. The court also considered the need for supervised time between T and his mother, and the father's obligations to keep the mother informed regarding T's health and childcare arrangements. Furthermore, the court addressed the need for a report from the Director-General of the Office of Children, Youth and Family Support concerning notifications and assessments made by the agency.

In reaching its decision, the court applied principles relating to interim parenting orders, aiming to act in the best interests of the child. The court ordered that T live with his father and that the father have sole parental responsibility. T was to spend supervised time with his mother, with the supervision to be undertaken by either the father or Ms Jessup's mother, as agreed or available. The father was directed to keep the mother informed about T's medical treatment and childcare arrangements. The court also made an order under s 69ZW of the *Family Law Act 1975* for a report from the Director-General.

The proceedings were adjourned for a Less Adversarial Trial, with the court indicating it would conduct the first day of such a trial on 19 December 2011, unless the parties reached an agreement beforehand.