Vardalosis and Kanavas (No. 2)

This matter concerned parenting and property disputes between the mother and father of a child born in June 2005. The proceedings were before Young J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the future parenting arrangements for the child, including issues of parental responsibility, the child's residence, and the extent of contact and communication between the child and the mother. Additionally, the court needed to address the father's ability to enrol the child in educational institutions and the parties' conduct towards each other. The court also had to consider the child's ability to travel internationally and the management of any outstanding applications and costs.

Young J discharged previous orders relating to children and parenting matters, while preserving earlier property and financial orders. The court ordered equal shared parental responsibility for the child, with the child to live with the father. The mother's time with the child and all communications were reserved, though the father was directed to encourage the child's contact with her extended maternal family. The father was permitted to enrol the child in kindergarten or school. Both parents were restrained from denigrating, abusing, threatening, or challenging the other, and from applying for an Australian passport for the child or taking the child out of Australia. The order for the child to live with the father was to be supervised by a Family Consultant, with provisions for re-listing the matter if significant issues arose. All previous cost orders and applications were dismissed, with no order as to costs.