Child Support in South Australia

Child support in South Australia operates under the national Australian child support scheme. The calculation itself does not vary by state. What differs in South Australia is how parents access services, offices, and support, particularly in Adelaide.

This page explains how child support works in South Australia, how to estimate an assessment, what child support covers, and where to go for official help.

Child support calculator for South Australia

If you are looking for a child support calculator for South Australia, the calculation is based on income and care, not where you live or the local cost of living.

Child support is calculated using a national formula administered by Services Australia under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. The same inputs produce the same result whether a parent lives in Adelaide or elsewhere in Australia.

This means:

There is no separate “South Australia” or “Adelaide” calculator
Living in Adelaide does not change how child support is calculated

You can estimate child support using the national calculator here: Child Support Calculator

Child support assessment in South Australia

A child support assessment is the formal calculation made under the national formula. It determines whether child support is payable, who pays, and how much.

The assessment is based on:

Each parent’s taxable income
The number and ages of children
How care is shared between parents

Assessments are administered nationally by Services Australia, including for parents living in South Australia.

How much is child support in South Australia?

There is no fixed amount of child support in South Australia.

The amount depends on income, care, and family circumstances, not the state or city you live in. Statutory minimum and fixed rates apply in low-income cases and are the same across Australia.

For a clear explanation of how child support amounts are worked out, see: How Much Is Child Support in Australia?

What does child support cover in South Australia?

Child support contributes to the ordinary costs of raising children. In South Australia, as elsewhere, child support can be used for a wide range of everyday child-related and household expenses.

For a full explanation, see: What Does Child Support Cover in Australia?

Common expenses covered by child support

Food. Groceries and meals.
Clothing. Everyday wear, school uniforms, and seasonal needs.
Housing. Rent, mortgage payments, and utilities.
Education. General school fees, textbooks, and necessary supplies.
Medical care. Routine healthcare, including doctor visits and medications.

The receiving parent can allocate the funds as they see fit toward these or other household costs.

Child support contact number and offices in South Australia

Searches such as “child support contact number SA” or “child support office Adelaide” usually relate to Services Australia, which administers child support nationally.

There is no separate South Australian or Adelaide child support agency. Parents in South Australia contact Services Australia for:

Assessments and reassessments
Payments and collections
Changes to income or care
General child support enquiries

Official contact details, including phone numbers and how to find a Services Australia service centre in Adelaide or elsewhere in South Australia, are listed here: Child Support Agency Contact

Child support and Centrelink

Child support and Centrelink are both administered by Services Australia, but they are separate programs.

Child support deals with financial support between parents. Centrelink payments relate to income support and family assistance. While child support can affect some Centrelink payments, the assessment itself is handled under the child support scheme.