Putting Your Children First After Separation Through Parenting Arrangements
This practical guide will walk you through the essentials of creating effective parenting arrangements in Australia, helping you make informed decisions for your family’s future.
Separation is a difficult journey, and when children are involved, the primary concern for most parents is ensuring their well-being and stability. Navigating the path to creating new parenting arrangements can feel overwhelming. The key is to focus on your children’s best interests and establish a clear, consistent routine that allows them to thrive.
What Are Parenting Arrangements?
Parenting arrangements cover all the practical aspects of how you will continue to raise your children after separation. The law encourages parents to reach an agreement themselves, as you know your children best. A comprehensive arrangement should address the day-to-day realities of co-parenting.
Key Areas to Cover
- Parental Responsibility: This refers to who makes the major long-term decisions for your children, such as their education, religious upbringing, and significant health matters. The law presumes it is in the child’s best interest for parents to have equal shared parental responsibility.
- Living Arrangements: This is about where the children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. This can range from one parent having primary care with the other parent spending specific time (e.g., weekends, holidays), to an equal time arrangement.
- Communication: How will you and your ex-partner communicate about the children? Agreeing on a method (e.g., email, a co-parenting app) can reduce conflict.
- Special Occasions: How will you share time on birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and school holidays? Planning this in advance prevents future disagreements.
- Changeover: Decide on a neutral and comfortable location for handovers to make the process as smooth as possible for the children.
Creating a Parenting Plan
A Parenting Plan is a written, signed, and dated agreement that you and your former partner create together. While not legally enforceable by a court, it’s a fantastic tool for setting out clear expectations and demonstrating your ability to co-parent effectively. It can be used as evidence of a workable arrangement if you later need to apply for court orders.
A good Parenting Plan should be:
- Child-focused: Always prioritise what is best for your children’s emotional and physical well-being.
- Clear and Specific: Avoid vague language. State exact days, times, and locations.
- Flexible: Acknowledge that as children grow, their needs will change, and the plan may need to be updated.
Making it Legally Binding: Consent Orders
If you want your agreement to be legally enforceable, you can apply to the Family Court to have your Parenting Plan made into Consent Orders. This is a formal recognition of your agreement by the court. Once made, both parents are legally required to follow the orders. This is the most common way to formalise parenting arrangements and provides security and certainty for everyone involved.
Creating parenting arrangements after separation requires patience, communication, and a steadfast focus on your children’s best interests. By working towards a clear and practical plan, you can establish a positive co-parenting dynamic that provides your children with the stability and support they need. Whether you create an informal Parenting Plan or formalise it with Consent Orders, the goal is to build a foundation for a successful new family structure.
Need help creating a parenting plan that works?
Every family is different, and finding the right arrangement can be complex. The experienced family law team at Sheridan Legal can help you navigate your options and formalise an agreement that protects your children’s best interests.
Call us on (02) 6562 3300 or visit our Book an Appointment page to schedule a call or meeting.
This article is part of our 4-part series on Family Law. Read our other articles here:
- What Am I Entitled To? A Clear Guide to Property Settlement in Australia
- How to Get a Divorce in Australia: The 2025 Step-by-Step Guide
- Spousal Maintenance in Australia: Are You Entitled to Financial Support?