Watts and Watts

In the matter of *Watts and Watts*, Foster J considered an application concerning the contact arrangements for children between their parents. The dispute centred on the terms and conditions under which the father would have supervised contact with the children.

The court was required to determine the specific orders governing supervised contact, including the process for assessment of suitability, the duration and location of contact, the responsibilities of each parent in facilitating contact, and the financial implications of the supervision. The court also had to consider provisions for variations to the orders should the nominated contact centre be unable or unwilling to provide its services, or if the parties agreed to different arrangements.

Foster J ordered the suspension of previous orders relating to contact, and imposed a new regime. This regime mandated that both parents engage with a nominated Contact Centre for an assessment of the father's suitability for supervised time. The court stipulated that if the assessment was successful, the father would have supervised contact for a minimum of two hours per fortnight at the Contact Centre, with the mother responsible for delivering and collecting the children. The father was ordered to pay the reasonable fees for the supervision and to comply with the rules and directions of the Contact Centre staff. The orders also included mechanisms for restoring the matter to the court list if the Contact Centre could not provide supervision, or if circumstances necessitated a variation of the existing orders.