Family and domestic violence
Family and domestic violence affects how a child support case is handled when there are alleged safety risks between parents. Services Australia has options to protect information, adjust how a case is managed, and allow parents to step back from the system.
Definition
Services Australia operates in a sensitive environment and prioritises customer safety. Information is relevant to child support customers who are experiencing, or at risk of, family and domestic violence. This includes decisions a person affected by family and domestic violence may need to make about their child support case.
Definition source: Guides to Social Policy Law, Child Support Guide, Version 4.97, released 20 March 2026, Family & domestic violence.
Role in the formula
Family and domestic violence does not change the child support formula. The calculation still follows the standard steps based on income, care, and costs.
Where violence is alleged, the difference is in how the case is managed. Services Australia may restrict access to information, control how contact occurs between parents, and apply additional safeguards during the assessment and collection process.
The main interaction is with the Maintenance Action Test (MAT), which applies to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A. A parent who would normally need to apply for child support to receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A may be exempt where family and domestic violence is alleged.
How cases are handled
Where family and domestic violence is alleged, Services Australia uses a case management approach designed to reduce risk. Customers may be asked a safety question and offered referral to a social worker or external support service.
Case handling can include limiting staff access to information, recording safety concerns on the file, and managing communication carefully. This can affect how and when the other parent is contacted during an application or review.
Services Australia does not investigate or determine whether violence occurred. The role is to manage the child support case safely where violence is alleged.
Applying or withdrawing
When applying for child support, Services Australia will usually need to contact the other parent. If there is an alleged risk, this is discussed early so the applicant can decide whether to proceed.
An application can be withdrawn if that contact creates concern. The parent can instead seek an exemption from the Maintenance Action Test and apply again later if circumstances change.
If the application continues, Services Australia will still apply safeguards during contact and case handling.
Collection options
If child support proceeds, the receiving parent chooses how payments are handled. This can be private collect between parents or agency collect through Services Australia.
Where violence is alleged, agency collect is often used to reduce direct interaction. Services Australia can collect payments and transfer them without the parents dealing with each other directly.
Private collect remains available, but Services Australia cannot enforce payments under that arrangement. A switch to agency collect can be requested if needed.
Ending a child support assessment
A receiving parent can elect to end a child support assessment at any time. Where family and domestic violence is alleged, this may be done to reduce risk or contact.
If the case is ended, the parent can still receive FTB Part A above the base rate if an exemption applies. The case can also be restarted later by making a new application.
A paying parent does not have the option to end an assessment on this basis.
Reporting threats
If a threat of violence is made, Services Australia will record it. These records may later be used as evidence in court proceedings.
Serious threats may be reported to police. Services Australia does not need the consent of the threatened person to do this where there is a risk to safety.
Information can be shared with authorities where necessary to prevent or reduce a threat to a person’s life, health, or welfare.
Example
A parent has primary care of a child and would usually need to meet the Maintenance Action Test by applying for child support to receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A.
If there is an alleged risk of family and domestic violence, the parent can seek an exemption. This allows them to receive payments without pursuing a child support assessment.
If they proceed, Services Australia may manage the case differently. Contact is handled carefully, information access may be restricted, and agency collect can be used to avoid direct interaction.