Lombardi and Conti

In the matter of *Lombardi and Conti*, heard by Brown J, the dispute concerned the interpretation and implementation of existing parenting orders, specifically regarding supervised contact between the father and his children. The father sought clarification and modification of these orders, while the mother also had an application before the court.

The central legal issues before the court were: firstly, the timing of the commencement of supervised contact in relation to therapeutic counselling; and secondly, the process for agreeing upon a supervisor for the father's contact with the children. The court was also required to determine the disposition of the parties' applications and associated procedural matters.

Brown J reasoned that paragraph (4) of the previous orders required clarification to ensure the children's welfare. The court ordered that supervised contact should not commence until the stipulated therapeutic counselling had begun, thereby prioritising the therapeutic process. Furthermore, the court established a clear mechanism for agreeing on a supervisor, requiring consensus between the father (or his lawyer), the mother's lawyer, and the independent children's lawyer, with a provision for the counsellor to be involved if deemed appropriate. The court also vacated a previously scheduled hearing date and adjourned the final parenting orders for further consideration. The question of costs was reserved.