About Us
Child Support Australia is a free, independent guide to Australia’s child support system.
We are not affiliated with government agencies, courts, law firms, or legal service providers. The site was created to help Australian parents understand child support rules, assessments, payments, care percentages, and common system problems.
For many years, Child Support Australia operated through the work, research, and private financial support of Dr Andrew Lancaster. More recently, the site has also been supported by small amounts of display advertising revenue and voluntary public contributions.
Our work is designed to help parents understand their obligations, avoid common mistakes, and deal with the system with greater confidence. The site also contributes to broader public discussion about how child support operates and how it may be improved.
Here you’ll find calculator tools, plain-English explanations, forum responses, and reform proposals focused on better outcomes for children and reduced stress for parents.
Dr Andrew Lancaster
CSA Project Leader
The project publishes research-based articles and parent resources used by parents, advocates, and policymakers.
Our Mission
We aim to provide accurate, independent information about Australia’s child support system and highlight areas where outcomes may be improved.
Our work includes analysis of the existing formula, the development of alternative models, and discussion of potential reforms. These contributions are intended to support informed public discussion about the system and its future direction.
Free Resources
Online Complaints Forum
Dr Andrew Lancaster responds directly to parent questions, drawing on real cases and long-term system experience. The forum has helped thousands of mums and dads understand the specific child support problems they are facing.
Guidance and Education
Articles, resources, and video content explain how the system operates, including common problems, assessment rules, payment issues, and areas of complexity.
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 is a former policy strategist in the Commonwealth Public Service. He has a PhD in Economics from the 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, law firms, and paid advisory providers. We do not receive funding from Services Australia, the Family Court, or private law firms.
We do not sell paid advice, legal services, casework, memberships, e-books, or referral services. We do not operate as a lead-generation site for lawyers, consultants, or other private providers.
Advertising and public contributions help support the continued operation of the site. They do not control our editorial content, calculator design, forum responses, reform positions, or public information work.
Articles are based on legislation, publicly available data, case patterns observed over many years, and engagement with parents through our CSA forum. Where opinions or reform proposals are expressed, they are identified and supported by evidence and reasoning.
The site is intended to inform, not replace, professional advice. Parents are encouraged to use the information here to better understand their position and engage more effectively with the system.