Spanos & Hallett (addendum) 2015 FamCA 459

A child aged 3 years lived with the mother and spent time with the father.  The judge ordered that the time spent with the father increase in a graduated approach according to the child’s age as follows (age of child):

• time spent be 6 hours on alternate weekends while the child was aged 3 years
• time increase to two overnight stays when the child reaches the age of 4 years
• time increase to three overnight stays when the child is of school age.

The mother was directed to engage in treatment with a mental health professional on the topics of substance abuse, her enmeshed relationship with the father including family violence, and her anxieties arising from the end of the relationship with the father (therapy for parent).

The father was directed to engage in treatment with a mental health professional on the topics of substance abuse, trust, his entrenched strong belief about the mother, and the enmeshed relationship with the mother.

The judge ordered that therapy be reportable to Court.