Parkins and Adams

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge F. Turner in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the mother and father of two children, X and Y, regarding the arrangements for the children's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and communication.

The court was required to determine the specific orders concerning parental responsibility, the children's residence, and the schedule for the children to spend time and communicate with the father. This included establishing a progressive increase in the father's time with the children, outlining specific arrangements for holidays and special occasions, and setting conditions for the father's contact and access to information about the children's well-being.

The court made orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility and establishing the children's residence with her. It then detailed a phased approach for the children to spend time with the father, commencing with limited weekend contact and progressively increasing to overnight stays and a significant proportion of school holidays. These orders were subject to the father's compliance with preceding steps and included provisions for communication, changeovers, and the father's engagement with professionals such as a psychologist and the children's general practitioner. The court also stipulated that the father must complete a post-separation parenting course and provided for the father to apply to spend school holiday time in Queensland, subject to specific conditions regarding accommodation and employment. All extant applications were dismissed.