Child Support in Australia (2026)
About this article
Sourced from Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and court decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
Compare by state
Statute citations are verified per state. Select a state to jump to its full section below.
| Primary statute | |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) |
| Queensland | Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) |
| South Australia | Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) |
| Tasmania | Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) |
| Victoria | Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) |
| Western Australia | Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) |
What is this right?
Child support in Australia runs under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989, administered by Services Australia. The principle is simple: both parents are financially responsible for their children. The execution is a formula.
The amount is calculated using a formula based on each parent's taxable income, the government's tables of the cost of raising children, the percentage of care each parent provides, and the number of children. Higher income pays more. Parents who provide more than 35% of care get a reduction in what they pay.
The assessment uses each parent's adjusted taxable income minus a self-support amount (tied to roughly one-third of male total average weekly earnings) — so each parent keeps enough to cover their own basic living costs before contributing.
You can run child support through Services Australia for assessment and collection, or you can make a private arrangement. Parents who agree can lock in a different number through a binding child support agreement or a limited child support agreement. Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or finishes secondary school (whichever comes later, up to the end of the school year they turn 18).
When does it apply?
Child support applies when:
- Parents are separated (whether they were married, de facto, or never in a relationship).
- A child is under 18 years old (or still in secondary school in the year they turn 18).
- The child is a citizen or resident of Australia, or at least one parent is an Australian resident.
- Either parent can apply for an assessment through Services Australia.
What to Do If Child Support Is Not Being Paid in Australia
- Apply for a child support assessment through Services Australia (Child Support) — you can do this online or by phone.
- Choose collection method — Services Australia can collect from the other parent's wages ("collect" arrangement) or you can collect privately ("private collect").
- Keep your income details up to date — if your income changes significantly, notify Services Australia for a new assessment.
- Apply for a change of assessment if there are special circumstances — for example, high costs for a child with a disability or high contact costs due to distance.
- Consider a binding or limited agreement if you and the other parent can agree on a fair amount.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't refuse to pay — Services Australia has strong enforcement powers including tax refund interception, departure prohibition orders, and court enforcement.
- Don't underreport income — Services Australia can investigate and use amended assessments based on estimated income.
- Don't link child support to parenting time — paying or not paying child support does not affect your right to see your child, and vice versa.
- Don't ignore a child support assessment — arrears accumulate and can be recovered even years later.
About Family Law in Australia
Family law in Australia is federal — the Family Law Act 1975 covers divorce, parenting, property, and spousal maintenance, all heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Divorce is no-fault and needs 12 months of separation. The 2023 amendments removed the equal shared parental responsibility presumption — child safety is now the primary concern. Property splits use a four-step just-and-equitable test, not 50/50. De facto couples get equivalent rights under Part VIIIAB. Child support runs through the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989.
Worked Examples
ScenarioYou and your former partner share care of two children (about 65/35), and you have very different incomes.
OutcomeServices Australia (Child Support) calculates an administrative assessment using the statutory formula: it combines both incomes, works out the children's annual costs at that level of combined income, and divides liability based on each parent's income share and care percentage. Either parent can apply for the assessment online.
Verified against Services Australia and the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989: formula combines incomes + costs of children + care shares. Educational information, not legal advice.
Common Questions
How is child support worked out?
A statutory formula. Both parents' assessable incomes are combined; an amount representing the 'costs of the children' is calculated based on that combined income and the children's ages; each parent's share is set by their income percentage; care percentages reduce the paying parent's share to reflect direct care costs.
Do I have to use Services Australia (Child Support)?
No — parents can make a binding child support agreement instead (which generally requires independent legal advice) or a limited child support agreement, or rely on a court order. But most families use the administrative assessment, which is free, regularly updated, and enforced by Services Australia.
What if the assessment seems unfair?
You can apply for a 'change of assessment in special circumstances' — for example, where a child has high disability or medical costs, where someone's income doesn't reflect their real earning capacity, or where the formula produces an inequitable result. Objections to decisions and reviews are also available.
Can child support be enforced if it's not paid?
Yes. Services Australia has strong collection tools, including wage deduction (employer withholding), tax refund interception, and other enforcement actions. Persistent non-payment can also be pursued through the courts. Recipients should report non-payment promptly so collection action can start.
What is the child support right in Australia?
Child support in Australia runs under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989, administered by Services Australia. The principle is simple: both parents are financially responsible for their children. The execution is a formula.The amount is calculated using a formula based on each parent's taxable income, the government's tables of the cost of raising children, the percentage of care each parent provides, and the number of children. Higher income pays more. Parents who provide more than 35% of care get a reduction in what they pay.The assessment uses each parent's adjusted taxable income...
When does child support apply?
Child support applies when:Parents are separated (whether they were married, de facto, or never in a relationship).A child is under 18 years old (or still in secondary school in the year they turn 18).The child is a citizen or resident of Australia, or at least one parent is an Australian resident.Either parent can apply for an assessment through Services Australia.
What should I do if the other parent is not paying child support in Australia?
Apply for a child support assessment through Services Australia (Child Support) — you can do this online or by phone.Choose collection method — Services Australia can collect from the other parent's wages ("collect" arrangement) or you can collect privately ("private collect").Keep your income details up to date — if your income changes significantly, notify Services Australia for a new assessment.Apply for a change of assessment if there are special circumstances — for example, high costs for a child with a disability or high contact costs due to distance.Consider a...
What mistakes should I avoid with child support?
Don't refuse to pay — Services Australia has strong enforcement powers including tax refund interception, departure prohibition orders, and court enforcement.Don't underreport income — Services Australia can investigate and use amended assessments based on estimated income.Don't link child support to parenting time — paying or not paying child support does not affect your right to see your child, and vice versa.Don't ignore a child support assessment — arrears accumulate and can be recovered even years later.
State-by-state details
New South Wales
Primary statute: Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
Full New South Wales guide →Queensland
Primary statute: Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth)
Child support in Queensland is governed by the federal Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) and administered by Services Australia. The same rules apply nationally.
- Child support is calculated based on both parents' incomes, the cost of the child (which varies by age and combined parental income), and the care percentage each parent provides.
- Parents can opt for private collection or have the child support collected by Services Australia through the Child Support Collect scheme, which can garnish wages and intercept tax refunds.
- In Queensland, child support interacts with state family law matters — for example, a domestic violence order may affect care arrangements, which in turn affects child support calculations.
- Legal Aid Queensland provides advice on child support matters and can assist with objections and appeals to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (now part of the Administrative Review Tribunal).
South Australia
Primary statute: Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth)
Child support in Australia is administered by the federal Department of Social Services through Services Australia (Child Support) under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth).
- The amount of child support is calculated using a formula based on both parents' incomes, the cost of raising children, the percentage of care each parent provides, and the ages of the children.
- Parents can enter a child support agreement (binding or limited) rather than using the formula, provided the agreement meets certain requirements. Both types require a child support assessment to be in place.
- If a paying parent refuses to pay, Services Australia can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, register debts, and take court action to enforce payment.
- SA-specific considerations include the cost of living in Adelaide (relevant to departure applications) and the distance between parents in regional and remote SA (relevant to care arrangements and travel costs).
Tasmania
Primary statute: Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth)
Full Tasmania guide →Victoria
Primary statute: Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic)
Child support in Victoria follows the national scheme administered by Services Australia (Child Support) under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth). Victoria has the second-highest caseload after NSW.
- The national formula-based assessment applies — considering each parent's income, number of children, cost of children, and care percentage.
- Parents can choose private collection or Child Support collect (agency-managed). In Victoria, a significant proportion of cases use agency collection.
- Change of Assessment (COA) applications are available where the formula does not reflect the true circumstances — the 10 specified reasons include high costs of contact, special needs of a child, and income not reflected in tax returns.
- Victoria's Family Violence Protection Act 2008 intersects with child support — where family violence is present, special arrangements can be made for child support collection to protect the safety of the receiving parent.
Western Australia
Primary statute: Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth)
Child support in WA is governed by the federal Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) and administered by Services Australia. The same rules apply nationally, though WA's unique family court structure adds a state dimension.
- Child support is calculated based on both parents' incomes, the cost of the child, and the care percentage each parent provides.
- Parents can opt for private collection or have child support collected by Services Australia through the Child Support Collect scheme.
- In WA, child support interacts with the Family Court of WA — departure orders (court orders varying child support from the formula) are made by the Family Court of WA rather than the FCFCA.
- WA's FIFO work arrangements can complicate child support calculations, as income may fluctuate significantly and care arrangements may be non-standard due to roster patterns.
Child Support in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.