VINE & BUCHANAN

In the matter of *Vine & Buchanan*, heard before Judge Burchardt, the dispute concerned parenting orders for two children, X and Y. The orders sought to establish arrangements for parental responsibility, living arrangements, and time spent between the children and their parents, as well as imposing restrictions on the Father's access to one of the children's schools.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, X and Y, in relation to their living arrangements, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of time spent and communication between the children and the Father. A significant issue was the need to balance the Father's right to spend time with X and Y against the need to protect X from potential harm or distress arising from the Father's conduct at X's school.

Judge Burchardt made orders reflecting the best interests of the children. The Mother was granted sole parental responsibility for X, with X to live with the Mother. Time spent and communication between X and the Father were to be at X's discretion and initiation, indicating a recognition of X's age and developing autonomy. Crucially, the Father was restrained from attending X's school, with limited exceptions for attending up to two school functions for Y in 2015, subject to strict conditions designed to ensure X's absence from the school premises and to provide adequate notice to the Mother.