Child Support in Tasmania
Child support in Tasmania operates under the national Australian child support scheme. The calculation itself does not vary by state. Tasmania does not have a separate formula or state-based child support system.
This page explains how child support works in Tasmania, how assessments are calculated, how to apply or manage child support, where to find official contact details, and what child support is intended to cover.
How the scheme works in Tasmania
Child support in Tasmania works the same way as it does across Australia. Assessments are calculated using a national formula administered by Services Australia under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989.
The formula takes into account:
- Each parent’s taxable income
- The number and ages of children
- How care is shared between parents
Parents with the same incomes and care arrangements will receive the same assessment whether they live in Hobart, regional Tasmania, or another state.
You can estimate an assessment using the Child Support Calculator, which applies the same statutory formula used by Services Australia.
Applying for and managing child support
Applications for child support are handled nationally through Services Australia. Parents in Tasmania apply and manage child support in the same way as parents elsewhere in Australia.
Most tasks can be completed online through myGov and the Express Plus Child Support mobile app. This includes applying for child support, updating income details, advising changes in care arrangements, uploading documents, and checking payments.
Step-by-step guidance for using the online system is available through the Services Australia child support online help guides.
Contact details and opening hours
All child support assessments and enquiries are handled by Services Australia. There is no separate Tasmanian child support agency.
Official phone numbers, opening hours, and information on how to locate a Services Australia service centre in Tasmania are available on the Child Support Agency Contact page.
Child support assessments
A child support assessment determines whether child support is payable, who pays, and how much. Assessments can change over time if income, care arrangements, or family circumstances change.
Assessments are administered nationally and apply uniformly across Australia, including Tasmania.
What child support covers
Child support contributes to the ordinary costs of raising children. In Tasmania, as elsewhere in Australia, there are generally no restrictions on how a receiving parent allocates the funds.
A detailed explanation of what child support is intended to cover is available in What Does Child Support Cover in Australia?.
Common expenses include:
- Food. Groceries and meals.
- Clothing. Everyday wear and school uniforms.
- Housing. Rent, utilities, and mortgage costs.
- Education. School fees, textbooks, and supplies.
- Medical care. Doctor visits and medications.
The receiving parent decides how child support is used across household and child-related expenses.
When does child support end in Tasmania?
Because most Tasmanian children are already five when they start school (the age cut-off is 1 January), child support typically ends when they finish Year 12. The rules allow payments to extend beyond 18 where a student is completing their final year. Many Tasmanian parents can apply to keep support going for their 18-year-old until secondary school finishes.
The normal cut-off is when the child turns 18, with a limited exception for finishing Year 12. University study does not qualify. Tasmanian university students are generally ineligible for child support because they have finished school and have already turned 18.
Related: What Age Does Child Support Stop?