STERN & COLLI

In the matter of STERN & COLLI, Judge Mercuri considered parenting orders concerning a child born in 2017. The dispute involved the allocation of parental responsibility and the specific arrangements for the child's time with each parent, taking into account the child's age, developmental stage, and the geographical distance between the parties. The overarching consideration for the court was the best interests of the child.

The court was required to determine whether to make orders for equal shared parental responsibility and to establish a detailed schedule for the child's time with the father. This schedule needed to be phased to accommodate the child's increasing age and developmental needs, as well as to manage the practicalities of the parents' living arrangements. The court also had to consider provisions for communication, special occasions, and the resolution of future disagreements regarding schooling.

Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975*, the court made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, with the child to live with the mother. The court then set out a comprehensive, age-specific schedule for the child's time with the father, commencing from infancy and extending through to the child's primary school years. This schedule included provisions for regular weekday and weekend time, as well as specific arrangements for school holidays and public holidays, with mechanisms for agreement and dispute resolution. The court also made orders regarding communication, the sharing of medical information, school participation, and the notification of illness or injury, alongside injunctions concerning the use of parental terms and a requirement for the parties to complete a parenting program.