Parenting & FDR Readiness Planner

How the parenting planner works

The planner has three parts. The care calculator takes the number of nights per fortnight a child spends with one parent, converts it to a care percentage for each parent and shows which care level that percentage falls into, with a short note on how that level is generally treated.

The FDR screener lists situations that can affect whether Family Dispute Resolution applies before a parenting application, such as family violence concerns, an urgent risk of harm to a child or an existing FDR certificate. Tick any that apply and the tool tells you whether you may have grounds for an exception.

The issues checklist covers common parenting topics, from living arrangements and holidays to schooling, travel and communication. Tick the ones you need to resolve and the tool builds a summary with a note on each.

What the planner cannot tell you

It does not calculate child support, decide what care arrangement a court would order, or confirm that an FDR exception applies. Those depend on the full facts and, for exceptions, on a court's view.

When to get advice

Get advice early if you ticked any safety concern, if you are considering a court application, or if you and the other parent cannot agree on the issues in your checklist.