Tyers and Stafford

This matter concerned an application by the Mother and Father regarding their child, X, born in 2011. The dispute centred on arrangements for X's health issues, parental responsibility, living arrangements, and other related matters. The decision was made by Judge McGuire.

The court was required to determine the extent of parental responsibility concerning X's health, particularly in circumstances of disagreement, and to establish a living arrangement for X that balanced the parents' involvement. Further issues included the method of communication regarding changeovers, the requirement for parents to complete parenting programs, and the enrolment of X in a childcare program to support his development.

Judge McGuire ordered that both parents must follow all reasonable recommendations of the multi-disciplinary team assessing and treating X's health issues, including speech therapy. In cases of disagreement on major long-term health decisions, the parent who agrees to follow the team's recommendation would have sole responsibility for that decision. X was to live in an equal time regime between the parents on a week-about basis, with specific provisions for Tuesday and Wednesday care, and changeovers to occur on Fridays at 5.00 pm unless otherwise agreed. The parents were also ordered to enrol in and complete specified parenting programs and to enrol X in a structured childcare program. Both parents were to keep each other informed of any serious medical injury or illness X might suffer.