Josephs and Searle

In the matter of *Josephs and Searle*, Justice Ryan of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning two children, G and M. The dispute involved the allocation of parental responsibility and the living arrangements for the children, as well as the nature and extent of the father's future involvement in their lives.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for the children, specifically addressing issues of sole parental responsibility, where the children would live, and the extent of contact the father would have with them. Further, the court had to consider orders restraining certain conduct by the father and the mother, and the mother's obligation to engage in psychotherapy.

Justice Ryan's reasoning led to the discharge of all prior orders concerning the children. The court ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility and that the children live with her. The father was restrained from telephoning or approaching the children, their home, or their school, though he was permitted to send cards and gifts for birthdays and Christmas. The mother was ordered to provide the father with school reports and information about school photographs, and to notify him in writing of any serious hospitalisation of a child. The mother was also restrained from denigrating the father or his family in the children's presence. Additionally, the mother was ordered to obtain a referral for psychotherapy within 28 days to address matters raised in a specific report. The court also made provision for parties to share this report with health professionals and included details regarding the obligations and consequences of contravening the orders, as set out in an attached Fact Sheet. All outstanding parenting applications were dismissed.