Rasmussen and Rasmussen and Anor

The matter before Faulks DCJ concerned an application regarding the time and communication arrangements for two children, B and C, with their father. The dispute centred on establishing a framework for the children to spend time with and communicate with their father, taking into account the existing circumstances and the involvement of the Department.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of contact and communication between the children and their father. This involved establishing an initial period of telephone contact, followed by supervised contact at a children's contact centre, and ultimately progressing to unsupervised time. The court also needed to consider the practical arrangements for the handover and collection of the children for these periods of contact.

Faulks DCJ ordered a phased approach to re-establishing the children's time with their father. Initially, telephone contact was to occur twice weekly for two weeks, with the mother facilitating the calls and potentially being present. This was to be followed by supervised contact sessions at a children's contact centre, with a specified number of sessions required before progressing. Subsequently, unsupervised time was to commence, gradually increasing in duration over a six-week period, before settling into a regular weekly unsupervised arrangement. The mother was to be responsible for the children's transport to and from the father's residence or the contact centre. Liberty to apply was granted to address any difficulties that might arise in implementing these orders.