STANLEY & GARNER

This matter concerned an application before Judge Burchardt concerning the parental responsibilities and time arrangements for two children, X and Y. The dispute centred on how the parents would share responsibility for the children's upbringing, including their living arrangements, decision-making regarding their health and education, and the division of public and school holidays.

The court was required to determine the specific orders regarding equal shared parental responsibility, the weekly and holiday time arrangements for the children between the parents, and the procedures for making joint decisions about the children's welfare. Key issues included communication protocols between parents, arrangements for birthdays and family functions, and the management of school-related matters such as interviews and events. The court also had to address provisions for when children are unwell, overseas travel, and injunctions to prevent denigration of a parent in the children's presence.

Judge Burchardt made detailed orders reflecting a framework for shared parental responsibility. These orders established an alternating weekly care arrangement, with specific provisions for communication, decision-making on health and education, and the division of holidays, including Christmas and Easter, on an alternating or shared basis. The court also ordered the parents to attend a Post-Separation Parenting course and directed that one child, Y, should attend counselling. Injunctions were put in place to prevent either parent from denigrating the other in the children's presence.