Wilson and Holmes and Anor

In *Wilson and Holmes and Anor*, Johnston J made parenting orders concerning two children, Z and T. The dispute involved the father seeking sole parental responsibility and the children to live with him, while the mother and her step-father, Mr Holmes, sought specific time with the children. The court discharged all previous orders and established a detailed schedule for the children's time with each parent, including provisions for supervised contact initially, followed by progressively increasing unsupervised time.

The court was required to determine the specific parenting arrangements for the children, including who would have parental responsibility, where the children would live, and the allocation of time between the parents. This involved establishing a framework for communication between the parties, managing school and medical information, and addressing specific arrangements for birthdays and holidays. The court also considered and made orders regarding injunctions to prevent denigration and the publication of proceedings, as well as the use of physical discipline.

Johnston J applied principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) to make orders that prioritised the children's best interests. The reasoning involved a phased approach to contact, commencing with supervision and gradually transitioning to more extensive time, reflecting a cautious approach to the children's welfare. The court also imposed strict communication protocols, including SMS only for non-emergency matters and specific changeover procedures to minimise conflict. Injunctions were granted to protect the children from negative commentary and to maintain the children's surname as the father's. The court also made orders for the supervision and assistance of a Family Consultant to help the parties comply with the parenting orders.

The court ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility and that the children live with him. A detailed schedule for the mother and step-father to spend time with the children was established, commencing with supervised contact and progressing to unsupervised time. The application to change the children's surname was dismissed, and all parties were restrained from causing the children to have any surname other than the father's. The court also made orders for the involvement of a Family Consultant and for family therapy.