Parental responsibility is defined as all the duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority which parents have in relation to children (section 61B Family Law Act 1975). Those powers include the power to make decisions about issues affecting a child. For example, where a child should attend school, what sort of medical treatment a child should receive, and what religion a child should practise.

Custody (also known as live with/spend time with arrangements) refers to how a child’s time should be divided between his or her parents.