About Us
Child Support Australia is an independent guide to Australia’s child support system.
We are not affiliated with government or legal institutions and are privately funded. Child Support Australia provides a selective, research-based resource for parents and policymakers.
Our work is designed to help parents understand their obligations, avoid common mistakes, and engage constructively with reform efforts. The long-term goal is system reform driven by informed public scrutiny.
Here you’ll find clear analysis, practical tools, and proposals that focus on reducing conflict while improving outcomes for children.
Dr Andrew Lancaster
CSA Project Leader
Child Support Australia is privately funded with the backing of the Unicurve company. The project publishes research-based articles and practical resources used by parents, advocates, and policymakers.
Our Mission
We aim to reduce the harm caused by structural deficiencies in Australia’s child support system.
Our work includes formal reform advocacy. This has involved detailed critiques of the existing formula, the development of an alternative model, and proposals for a less adversarial and less intrusive system. We believe meaningful reform can improve outcomes for mothers, fathers, and children alike.
Our Services
Online Complaints Forum
Dr Andrew Lancaster responds directly to parent questions, drawing on real cases and long-term system experience.
Guidance and Education
Articles, resources, and video content explain how the system operates in practice, where it fails, and what can be improved.
Child Support Calculator
A widely used tool that helps parents estimate payments and understand how changes in income or care affect assessments.
Project Lead
Dr Andrew Lancaster
Former policy strategist in the Commonwealth Public Service. PhD in Economics, Australian National University.
Research and Publications
In 2021, Child Support Australia presented reform proposals to the Family Law Inquiry at Parliament House. A recording of this submission is available on our YouTube channel.
Transparency and Independence
Child Support Australia operates independently of government agencies, courts, and legal service providers. We do not receive funding from Services Australia, the Family Court, or private law firms.
Our content is produced without commercial pressure from advertisers, referral partners, or advocacy groups. Where tools or resources are provided, they are designed to explain how the system works in practice, not to promote particular outcomes or services.
Articles are based on legislation, publicly available data, case patterns observed over many years, and direct engagement with parents navigating the system. Where opinions or reform proposals are expressed, they are clearly identified as such and grounded in evidence and reasoning.
This site is intended to inform, not replace, professional advice. Parents are encouraged to use the information here to better understand their position, ask better questions, and engage more effectively with the system.
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