Matera and Matera

In the matter of *Matera and Matera*, heard by Judge Foster, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for two children, [Y] and [Z]. The orders made by the court addressed issues of parental responsibility, living arrangements, and the time the children would spend with each parent.

The court was required to determine the extent of equal shared parental responsibility, the primary residence of the children, and the specific arrangements for the father's time with the children, including the frequency, duration, and location of handovers. Further issues included provisions for the children's education and health, restrictions on physical discipline and denigration, communication protocols between the parents, and measures to prevent the children's removal from Australia. The court also ordered therapeutic intervention for the family.

The court ordered equal shared parental responsibility for the children, with the children to live with the mother. The father's time with the children was detailed through a phased schedule, commencing with supervised contact and gradually increasing to alternate weekends and significant portions of school holidays. Specific provisions were made for handovers, including the use of a contact centre and later a restaurant, and for the father's ability to arrange care during his time. The orders also included prohibitions on physical discipline and denigration, requirements for separate bedrooms, and detailed communication and information-sharing protocols between the parents regarding the children's welfare, health, and education. The court mandated attendance at therapy for a minimum of 12 months, with specific instructions for the Independent Children's Lawyer and the parties to facilitate this. Finally, stringent measures were put in place to prevent the children's removal from Australia, including notification to law enforcement and immigration authorities.