What is the legal test a non-parent must meet to be granted standing in a parenting application?

A non-parent seeking parenting time, contact, or in limited cases decision-making responsibility, generally needs to show the court that they have a genuine connection to the child that justifies being heard on the issue at all, before the court moves to the substantive best-interests analysis. This usually means demonstrating either a settled, parent-like relationship with the child - sometimes described as having stood in the place of a parent - or another close, ongoing relationship, such as that of a grandparent or sibling, along with a real interest in the child's welfare.

Standing isn't meant to be an especially high bar for someone with a genuine relationship, but it does screen out applications from people with only a nominal or distant connection to the child. Once standing is established, the court moves to deciding what outcome, if any, actually serves the child's best interests - standing gets you in the door, it doesn't decide the result. Because what counts as a sufficient relationship depends heavily on the specific facts, anyone considering this kind of application should document their actual involvement with the child and get legal advice on whether their relationship is likely to meet the threshold.