Joelson and Joelson

In the matter of *Joelson and Joelson*, Loughnan J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for two children, J and K Joelson. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children's care and contact with their parents, particularly in light of concerns regarding the father's conduct.

The court was required to determine the terms of orders relating to sole parental responsibility, the children's residence, and the father's time with the children. Key issues included the level of supervision required for the father's contact, the process for making decisions about major long-term issues, and provisions for drug testing and psychiatric assessment of the father. The court also addressed the parents' conduct towards each other and the children, as well as practical matters such as passport renewal.

The orders were made by consent between the parties, reflecting an agreement on the arrangements for the children. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility and the children were to live with her. The father's time with the children was to be supervised by an employee of a contact service, with specific provisions for the frequency and duration of contact, as well as the sharing of supervision costs. The father was also ordered to attend psychiatric assessment and comply with the psychiatrist's recommendations, with an authority granted to the psychiatrist to inform the mother of any disengagement or decline in mental health. Both parents were restrained from denigrating each other and from discussing the proceedings with the children. The court also included provisions for urinalysis testing of the father and for the renewal of the children's passports.