JANDURA & BANGARD

In the matter of *Jandura & Bangard*, heard before Obradovic J, the court was required to determine interim parenting orders concerning a child with special needs. The dispute centred on the appropriate level of contact between the child and the father, specifically whether that contact should be supervised or unsupervised, in light of concerns raised about the child's welfare.

The primary legal issue before the court was to assess the risk posed to the child and to determine what interim parenting orders would best serve the child's interests. This involved considering the child's specific needs, the capacity of each parent to meet those needs, and any potential risks associated with unsupervised time between the child and the father.

Obradovic J applied the paramount consideration of the best interests of the child, as mandated by the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The court considered evidence relating to the child's special needs and the parents' respective abilities to care for the child. After weighing the various factors, including the assessment of risk, the court concluded that it was in the child's best interests for the father to spend unsupervised time with the child. The court made interim orders to that effect.