Victoria and Bell

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Gill J in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The dispute involved the Mother and Father regarding the care arrangements for their two children, X and Y.

The court was required to determine the specific living arrangements for the children, including the division of time between each parent, and to make orders regarding communication, relocation, and the conduct of the parents during their time with the children. The court also considered provisions for drug testing of the Father, counselling, and future educational arrangements for the children.

Gill J made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, with the children to live with the Father for a significant portion of the time, including weekdays, weekends, and specific holiday periods. The Mother was granted time with the children during other specified holiday periods and on certain days. The court also imposed injunctions restraining both parents from consuming illicit substances or excessive alcohol prior to and during time with the children, from denigrating the other parent in the children's presence, from using physical chastisement, and from exposing the children to family violence. Specific provisions were made for drug testing of the Father for a limited period, ongoing counselling for the Father, and attendance at a parenting program by both parents. The court also addressed future arrangements for the children's secondary schooling.