Vadisanis & Vadisanis (No 3)

This case concerned parenting orders made by Le Poer Trench J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the mother, Ms Vadisanis, and the father, Mr Vadisanis, regarding the upbringing and contact arrangements for their two children, M and R.

The court was required to determine the terms of sole parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the specific conditions and schedule for the father's time with the children. Further issues included the communication protocols between the parents regarding important decisions, the children's welfare, and the father's engagement with therapy and specific behavioural requirements before expanded contact could be granted. The court also addressed orders concerning the children's education, medical care, and the prohibition of denigration and physical chastisement.

Le Poer Trench J applied principles of family law concerning the best interests of the children. The court ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility and that the children live with her. The father's time with the children was made conditional upon his compliance with specific therapeutic requirements, including engaging in therapy and demonstrating an understanding of past behaviours that may have contributed to alienation. The orders detailed a phased approach to increasing the father's contact, commencing with supervised time and progressing to unsupervised time with specific geographical limitations and holiday arrangements. Both parents were also subject to orders regarding communication, notification of significant events, and prohibitions against denigration and physical chastisement, with the mother also ordered to attend psychological assistance.

The court made final orders reflecting these determinations, including the appointment of an Independent Children’s Lawyer for a further 12 months to explain the court's orders to the children. The proceedings regarding the children were removed from the pending cases list.