Shared care in Australia means that a child spends at least 35% of the time (5 or more nights per fortnight) with each parent. This definition is used when assessing child support and some government benefits (Services Australia).
Shared care is not a judgment about parenting quality or commitment. It is an administrative classification based on how much overnight care each parent actually provides, and it plays a central role in how child support and Family Tax Benefit are worked out.
How Shared Care Is Worked Out (Care Percentage)
Services Australia assesses each parent or non-parent carer’s percentage of care as part of the child support system. In most cases, this is worked out from the number of nights the child spends in each household over time.
What matters is the prevailing, real-world care arrangements. Services Australia focuses on what is actually happening, not what is written in a court order, parenting plan, or private agreement if that document is not being followed in practice.
If parents agree on the care pattern, they can usually tell Services Australia how many nights each parent has. If they do not agree, Services Australia may determine the care percentage based on evidence that shows the actual routine. This can include calendars or diaries, school and childcare schedules, records of activities or appointments, and other material that demonstrates where the child is staying and when.
The purpose of this process is to establish the real pattern of care, because that is what both child support and related payments are based on.
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 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 Family Tax Benefit.
- Shared care (35% to 65%): both parents provide substantial care. Child support is usually reduced, and both parents may be eligible to receive some Family Tax Benefit.
- 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 Family Tax Benefit.
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 Family Tax Benefit
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 Family Tax Benefit, depending on their individual circumstances. In some cases, Family Tax Benefit 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.
Shared Care Schedules and Practical Reality
In day-to-day terms, shared care is often described as “split custody” or “shared custody.” In practice, this usually means predictable routines such as a 5–9 nights per fortnight arrangement, or a week-on, week-off schedule.
Shared care tends to work best when children attend school or regular activities from both homes, changeovers occur naturally through school or childcare, and parents live reasonably close to the child’s school.
Conflict between parents should be minimised, including through the use of digital technology. Where shared care works well, it often looks like this:
- Each parent provides a stable, self-contained home environment.
- Changeovers occur through school or regular care, rather than direct handovers.
- Parents follow agreed timetables consistently.
- Communication is business-like, care-focused, and conflict-free.
Is Shared Care a Good Idea for Children?
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
