VOSSEN & VOSSEN

In the matter of Vossen & Vossen, Rees J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for the children Z, X, and Y. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children, including their time with each parent, counselling, and costs.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility, the specific living arrangements for the children, the extent and nature of the father's time with the children, and the necessity for supervised contact. Furthermore, the court had to address the involvement of counsellors and the sharing of costs for counselling and legal representation, including the costs of the Independent Children's Lawyer. The court also considered the process for determining any outstanding ancillary issues.

Rees J ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility. The children were to live with the mother and spend time with the father on specified weekdays and Saturdays. Crucially, all time the children spent with the father was to be supervised by an accredited independent agency, chosen and paid for by the father. The court also ordered that the children and both parents continue in counselling with a specified counsellor, with the frequency and configuration of sessions to be determined by the counsellor, and the costs to be borne equally by the parents. The court also made orders regarding the payment of costs for the Independent Children's Lawyer and outlined a procedure for the determination of any future ancillary issues.