The nation unexpectedly plunging into lockdown again has caused widespread anxiety and uncertainty. Our children are precious, and Webster Malcolm Law is here to help you to make a decision as to whether shared care arrangements for your children can continue during lockdown, or whether the children should stay in one home.  

If you need urgent advice for parenting, or are in need of a protection order, we continue to be available remotely for help.  

The most important thing to consider is what is best for your children in your families’ circumstances, and whether shifting them between homes is safe for them. We have seen how fast the Delta variant can spread, and it is important we all continue to work together to stop this.   

Generally, the government advice is that children can go between households in Alert Level 4, if these two homes have a shared bubble arrangement. You must both also live in the same, or adjacent district. If doing this, we advise having a copy of any parenting agreement or Order on you when travelling, if there is one in place.  

If either caregiver is an essential worker, and no other care arrangements can be made, the bubble can be extended to allow for childcare.  

  • If you, your children, anyone in your bubble or the other caregiver’s bubble are sick, have compromised immunity, were at a location of interest or are a close contact, stop shared care.  
  • If one or both households also have a shared care arrangement for other children, (e.g. both partners have children from previous relationships) stop shared care. There cannot be more than one combined bubble.  
  • If there is a current requirement for contact to be supervised and the supervisor is in a different bubble, physical contact cannot occur. ​Contact can be arranged via Zoom with the supervisor.   

Although we all hope we will be back to Alert Level 2 or 1 soon, we have learned from last year that we may be in it for the long haul. It is important that we understand sense of time as a child, that 2 weeks may be a blink of an eye for us, but an eternity for them. It is important children continue to have contact with the other caregiver, and if this cannot be in person, we encourage an increased use of technology such as phone calls and Zoom.  

For parenting advice, please contact Brie Piggott.