Wilshaw & Wilshaw (No 3)

This matter concerned the parental responsibility and living arrangements for three children, D, E, and F, and the nature of the father's contact with them. The proceedings were before Hannam J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, particularly in relation to their meaningful relationship with both parents and the parental capacity of each parent. Specific issues included the allocation of sole parental responsibility, the children's residence, and the terms and conditions under which the father could communicate with and spend time with each child, considering the children's ages and individual circumstances.

Hannam J discharged all previous orders and made new orders reflecting a significant shift in parental responsibility and contact arrangements. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility, and the children were ordered to live with her. The father's contact with the children was substantially restricted, with specific provisions for communication and supervised or invited contact, particularly for the older children, D and E. For F, contact was to be facilitated through a contact service under specific conditions. The orders also mandated ongoing psychological treatment for the father and encouraged therapeutic interventions for the children and the family, including family therapy assessments, with detailed provisions for cost sharing. The father was permitted to send cards and gifts on special occasions, subject to the mother's review of written communications to F for any denigration of the mother or references to court proceedings.