Pritch and Manousakis

This matter concerned an application and response filed by the mother and father respectively, concerning their three children. The proceedings were heard by Dawe J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine interim parenting orders pending a final hearing, including the children's living arrangements and the father's time with them. The court also considered the need for psychiatric assessments of the parents and an updated family assessment report.

Dawe J made orders by consent regarding the parents' attendance upon an independent psychiatric expert for a report on their mental health and parenting capacity. Pending trial, the children were ordered to live with the mother, and the father's time with the children was suspended. The court further ordered that the parties and children attend upon Mr B for an updated family assessment report, with the assessment process to commence only after the psychiatric reports were completed. The application and response were dismissed, and each party was ordered to bear their own costs. The father was granted liberty to bring a further application regarding spending time with the children after receipt of Mr B's report and taking into account the likely listing of the matter for final hearing. The parties were also directed to take all necessary steps to ensure the children return to normal schooling if appropriate, considering their developmental and learning difficulties.