IDANOV & DUNSTABLE

This matter concerned an appeal by the father against a decision of the Senior Registrar in parenting proceedings involving three children. The Senior Registrar had declined to vary existing parenting orders to remove a requirement for supervised contact between the father and the children, specifically by a paid supervisor. The father sought to substitute a family member as the supervisor for weekend contact. The mother opposed any alteration to the existing supervision arrangements, particularly the involvement of family members.

The court was required to determine whether to vary the existing parenting orders to allow a family member to supervise the father's weekend time with the children, and whether to make any orders regarding the father's application for costs arising from a previous contravention application. The court also considered the mother's opposition to the proposed changes and the adequacy of her evidence in support of her position.

In relation to the supervision of the father's time with the children, the court was satisfied that a proposed family member, Ms S, was a suitable person to supervise weekend contact. However, the court was not satisfied that Ms S would be suitable for weekday supervision. The court noted that the mother's evidence did not adequately support the proposals she put forward. Regarding costs, the court found that there was insufficient evidence to make findings on the contravention application in June 2018, and that the mother's financial circumstances did not warrant a costs order against her.

The court ordered that upon Ms S executing an undertaking, the father's weekend time with the children would be supervised by his sister. The court also discharged a previous order made by the Senior Registrar and dismissed the father's application for costs related to the contravention application, as well as his application filed on 27 December 2018, otherwise.