Shared care

Shared care is the child support term for when a child spends between 35% and 65% of nights with each parent. Both parents are looking after the child for a substantial part of the time.

In the formula, shared care changes how much of the child’s costs each parent is treated as meeting directly through care.

Role in the formula

Shared care affects the cost percentage used in the formula. Once a parent reaches 35% care, the system recognises a substantial share of the child’s costs as being met directly by that parent.

In determining child support, the formula compares each parent’s income percentage with their cost percentage. Shared care can reduce what a parent pays, or bring the assessment closer to zero, depending on the income split.

Within shared care, the recognised cost percentage changes across the range. At 35% to 47% care, it rises gradually. At 48% to 52% care, it is treated as 50%. At 53% to 65% care, it rises again above 50%.

Example

One parent cares for the child 5 nights a fortnight. That is about 35% care, so the case enters shared care. The formula now recognises that parent as meeting part of the child’s costs directly through care, not just through cash payments.

If the same parent later moves to 7 nights a fortnight, the case sits around 50% care. At that point, each parent is treated as meeting 50% of the child’s costs through care. Income still determines the outcome, so one parent may still pay child support if their income percentage is higher.

Shared care does not mean no child support. It means care is high enough on both sides for the cost percentages to play a major role in the calculation.

How care percentage is determined

Services Australia works out each parent’s percentage of care based on where the child actually stays over time. The starting point is usually the number of nights in each household.

What counts is the real pattern of care. If a court order or parenting plan is not being followed, the assessment will reflect what is actually happening rather than what was intended.

If parents agree on care, they can report the arrangement. If they do not agree, Services Australia may rely on simple evidence such as calendars, school routines, or other records that show where the child is living.

The outcome is a care percentage, which feeds into the cost percentage used in the child support formula and also affects FTB Part A.

Levels of care and financial consequences

Australia’s child support scheme uses defined levels of care. Each level carries different financial consequences.

• Below regular care (0% to less than 14%): very limited care. A paying parent at this level generally cannot receive Family Tax Benefit (FTB) or other family payments.
• Regular care (14% to less than 35%): some care. A paying parent will usually pay less child support, but still cannot generally receive FTB.
• Shared care (35% to 65%): both parents provide substantial care. Child support is usually reduced, and both parents may be eligible to receive some FTB.
• Primary care (65% to 86%) and more than primary care (more than 86%): the higher-care parent generally does not pay child support, and higher care increases access to FTB.

Because these thresholds are fixed, relatively small changes in nights can have a noticeable effect on both child support and family payments.

Shared Care, Centrelink, and FTB

Shared care does not just affect child support. It can also affect eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Part A and related Centrelink payments.

When care is in the shared care range, both parents may be eligible to receive a portion of FTB Part A, depending on their individual circumstances. In some cases, FTB can be split between households. This makes accurate reporting of care particularly important, as inconsistencies can lead to overpayments or debts that must later be repaid.

Because child support assessments and Centrelink payments interact, changes to care can trigger changes across multiple payments. This is why Services Australia places emphasis on the care that is actually occurring, rather than what was intended or ordered in the past.

Common shared care patterns

Shared care usually involves a regular pattern of nights across both households. Common arrangements include 5 nights per fortnight with one parent, or an even split such as week-on, week-off.

Small changes in nights can shift a case into or out of shared care. Because the thresholds are fixed, even one or two nights can change both the cost percentage and eligibility for FTB Part A.

The system does not require a specific schedule. What matters is that the pattern is consistent enough to establish a clear percentage of care over the relevant period.

Is shared care a good idea for kids?

Research generally supports shared parenting arrangements, particularly where children are able to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents. This can still be true even if parents do not get along well, have different parenting styles, or need frequent changeovers, provided conflict is kept away from the child (Psychology Today).

The main risks tend to come from poor logistics and ongoing adult conflict rather than from shared care itself. Long travel times, unpredictable routines, and repeated disputes can undermine stability more than the care split does.

When shared care changes or becomes disputed

If the way you share care changes, you should notify Services Australia as soon as possible, as changes can affect child support and Family Tax Benefit.

When care is disputed, a child support officer will seek evidence of the care that is actually occurring and make a determination. Clear, simple evidence of the prevailing care arrangements is important, particularly where parents do not agree.

Related: Parenting Plan Examples