Melvin and Westwood

In the matter of *Melvin and Westwood*, Baumann J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and time spent with a child, X, born in 2014. The dispute involved the parents' arrangements for their child following their separation.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term decisions, and the specific times the child would spend with each parent. Additionally, the court addressed communication protocols between the parents, the process for obtaining the child's passport, and arrangements for international travel with the child.

Baumann J ordered that the child live with the mother and that both parents share equal responsibility for major long-term decisions. The court then detailed a comprehensive schedule for the child's time with the father, including specific arrangements for weekends, school holidays, and public holidays, with provisions for collection and return of the child. The orders also stipulated that communication between parents, except in emergencies, should be via email, and that both parents are to be kept informed of the child's health and educational matters. The court further ordered that the parents cooperate in obtaining an Australian passport for the child, with the mother to retain possession of it, and set out notice requirements for international travel. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.