Articles and Resources
Tools, articles and other help for Australian parents, with the latest posts in each category.
Child Support Guide for Australian Parents
The Child Support Guide for Australian Parents is an adapted version of the Australian Government’s Child Support Guide. It takes a different approach to the government edition, which was “designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law.” Our Parents’ Guide is written for the benefit of parents. Sections contained in the government version have…
Assessment of child support ›
A child support assessment is the formal determination of how much child support is payable between parents. It usually comes from the standard formula applied by Services Australia.
Assessment Notice
An assessment notice is the official letter showing your child support amount, how it was worked out, and when changes take effect.
Administrative Assessment
Administrative assessment is the standard child support assessment made by Services Australia using the formula or a change of assessment.
Care arrangements ›
Care percentage is the share of time a parent looks after a child over a care period. It is almost always based on the number of nights the child stays with each parent.
Shared care
Shared care means a parent has 35% to 65% care of a child. It affects cost recognition and whether child support is paid or received.
Below regular care
Below regular care means 0 to 51 nights a year. The formula treats that parent as meeting none of the child’s costs through care directly.
Change of assessment ›
Change of Assessment (COA) is a way to adjust a child support assessment when the formula does not properly reflect a case situation. Either parent can apply.
Change of Assessment (COA) Reason 8
Reason 8 Change of Assessment explained for parents, including when it applies, evidence, decisions, outcomes and historical COA figures.
Reason 8B
Reason 8B allows child support to reflect a parent’s unrealised earning capacity where current income is lower than they could earn.
Enforcement and debt collection ›
Child support debt arises when assessed payments are not made and the case is being collected by Services Australia. The unpaid amount becomes a debt owed to the Commonwealth.
Agency collect
Agency collect is a free option where Services Australia collects and transfers child support payments on behalf of the receiving parent.
Arrears
Arrears are unpaid child support amounts recorded on an account. They become enforceable debts once registered for collection.
Family law ›
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia hears family law cases, especially parenting disputes and property settlements.
Importance of Fathers in Child Development
Why always question whether the average Dad, who happens to be separated from the mother, is capable of being a good father to his children?
Formula for child support ›
The child support formula is also known as the basic formula and formula 1. It is a complex calculation that uses an income shares model to make a child support assessment.
Multi-case allowance
Multi-case allowance is a deduction from income for other child support cases, reducing assessed income before payments are calculated.
Annualised MTAWE figure
The annualised MTAWE figure underpins child support parameters, keeping income thresholds and costs aligned with wage growth each year.
Income for child support ›
Child support income is calculated from the taxable income of the parent. The main adjustment is to subtract a self-support amount in excess of $30k to determine income available to support children.
ATI Indexation Factor
The ATI indexation factor is used to calculate a parent’s provisional income when there is no current tax return by allowing for wage growth.
Application Period (of a Parent’s Income Estimate)
Application period defines when an income estimate applies in child support, splitting the year into pre-estimate and post-estimate periods.
Objections and reviews ›
An objection is the first step if you believe a child support decision is wrong. It triggers an internal review by Services Australia, where a different officer reassesses the decision.
Administrative Review Tribunal
The Administrative Review Tribunal reviews child support objection decisions independently and can affirm, vary, or replace the outcome.
Parenting ›
21 Parenting Tips and Skills
Good parenting depends on skills and activities. These 21 tips (plus quotes) show how parents, when separated, succeed despite limited time.
How Can Parents Support Gifted Children in Australia?
Support gifted children in Australia with balanced encouragement, school extension, assessment options, and help when challenges appear.
Payments ›
How Much Child Support Will I Pay on $100k?
If you make $100k annually, a realistic range for child support in Australia is from $7,700 to $12,700 per year. But every case is different.
Best Child Support Calculator (Australia)
Compare six Australian child support calculators tested against official estimates across standard, dependent child and multi-case scenarios.
Q&A Forum ›
Disclaimer
ChildSupportAustralia.com provides an independent guide to the Australian child support system based on ongoing research, analysis, forum experience, and public policy work. We are not affiliated with Services Australia, the Department of Human Services, or the former Child Support Agency. ChildSupportAustralia.com was created as a free, independent information resource for Australian parents. For many years,…
Rules ›
Child Support in Queensland
An overview of child support in Queensland, including how assessments work, what payments cover, and how the scheme is managed.
Child Support in South Australia
Child support in South Australia explained. How assessments work, what child support covers, who to contact, and how to estimate payments.
