What Is Child Support in Australia?
Child support is a regular payment made by one parent to the other after separation to help meet the cost of raising their children. The amount is usually worked out using a government formula that looks at parents’ incomes, care percentages, and the number and ages of the children.
Definition
Child support is a payment that one parent makes to the other parent, after separation, to contribute towards the costs of raising a child. It recognises the principle of children being financially supported by both of their parents.
Definition source: Guides to Social Policy Law, Child Support Guide, Version 4.97, released 20 March 2026, 1.1.C.60 Child support.
Formula result
Child support is the final amount produced by the child support formula. The system works through a series of steps to determine how much each parent contributes to the costs of the children, then converts that into a payment between parents.
The formula follows an income shares approach. It estimates the total cost of the children based on combined income, then divides that cost between parents according to their share of income and level of care.
If a parent has a positive child support percentage, they pay that share of the children’s costs to the other parent. If their percentage is negative, they are treated as meeting more of the costs through care and do not pay.
Child support can arise from different types of assessments. Most are administrative assessments using the formula, but parents can also set amounts through formal agreements that replace or adjust the formula outcome.
Example
Two parents separate and have two children. One parent earns more and has the children for fewer nights each year. The formula assigns that parent a positive child support percentage, meaning they must pay part of the children’s costs to the other parent.
The payment is made regularly, usually monthly, and continues while the assessment applies. The amount may change over time if income, care arrangements, or the children’s ages change.
What does child support cover?
Parents often ask what child support is meant to pay for. They seem to anticipate a list such as rent, food, school costs, or activities.
Child support does not work that way. It is not a reimbursement system and not a shared expense account. It is a cash transfer between parents determined by a formula.
Once paid, the money is not tracked or itemised and becomes part of the receiving parent’s household finances. The amount is based on income and care, not on actual expenses. Adjustments can be made in limited situations, such as a change of assessment, court order, or binding agreement.