Child support in Australia: what to do when the assessment isn't working for you
If you've received your child support assessment in Australia and something feels off – the amount seems wrong, the income figures don't match reality, or the arrangement just isn't fair — you're not imagining things. You have options, and there's a process to challenge it.
Key takeaways
You can negotiate a binding child support agreement outside the agency, or register a case with Services Australia Child Support
Registering with the agency does not mean conflict — it means security and structure for both parties
There are several reasons an assessment might not reflect reality — income, care arrangements, and out-of-pocket costs are the most common
There are three stages of review: change of assessment → objection → Administrative Review Tribunal
From July 2027, information you provide in a change of assessment process won't automatically be shared with your ex
How does child support work in Australia?
In Australia, child support is administered by Services Australia. When you separate, you have two main options.
Negotiate a binding child support agreement directly with the other parent. This lets both of you set your own terms, tailor the amount to your children's actual costs, and formalise things without the agency setting the figure. If both parents are willing to engage with it, this can work well – because when someone has had a say in the outcome, they're more likely to honour it.
Register a case with Services Australia. Once you do, they run an administrative formula assessment based on both incomes, the care arrangements, and a standard costs-of-children table. You can use their online estimator to get an idea of what you might be entitled to before you apply.
As Crystal Paduch, founder of Child Support Consultants and a former child support caseworker, explains: "It's important that you're aware of what child support do after that, and also what to expect from child support about what they can do, what they can't do, what their limitations are, and what the challenges are that you may encounter when using the system itself."
Do I have to register for child support?
For many women in Australia, the answer is yes — and not just for the obvious reasons.
If you're a lower income earner receiving Family Tax Benefit, you are required to take what's called ‘maintenance action’. That means you need to register a child support claim with Services Australia. Without it, you may not receive your maximum Family Tax Benefit payments. It's not optional.
Beyond the Centrelink requirement, registering formalises the arrangement. You know what to expect. Your ex knows what to expect. Nobody has to negotiate every time circumstances change.
I talk to a lot of women who have been told by their ex: "Let's keep it friendly – we don't need to involve the agency."
This always raises alarm bells for me, when someone doesn’t want an impartial third party looking at their affairs. Crystal agrees: "Why would going to the agency not be friendly? Why would that cause conflict? What is it that you are concerned of? Because the agency doesn't know you or me – why do you think this is going to cause a conflict between you and I?"
You can also register with the agency for the assessment to be made, but continue to collect privately – meaning your ex pays you directly, without the agency being involved in collection. It gives you a structure without escalating anything.
Why is the child support assessment sometimes wrong?
The formula assessment is based on three inputs: declared income, care percentage, and a standard costs-of-children table. The problem is that any one of those can be inaccurate – and the agency often won't know unless you tell them.
Income that doesn't reflect reality
The assessment uses declared taxable income. For a self-employed parent, that declared income might be legally minimised for tax purposes – what's on paper may have nothing to do with what they actually have access to.
But it’s not just business owners that can offer up dodgy figures to avoid paying child support – some parents have been known to reduce hours or refuse to work in order to avoid payments. This is why Services Australia also take into account someone’s capacity to earn. Anyone who has deliberately reduced their hours or income to lower their child support liability, without a legitimate health or caring reason, may have an assessment that doesn't reflect their real capacity to pay.
"It's the lack of collectionability, the incorrect assessments, the lack of consistency," Crystal says of the most common problems. "What's on paper may not be reflective of someone's actual access to financial resources – or their earning capacity."
Care arrangements that have shifted
The care percentage in the assessment is based on the formal arrangement – but actual day-to-day care often looks different. If your ex is claiming more care than he has, or if arrangements have changed over time, the assessment may be based on figures that no longer match reality.
Costs not captured in the standard table
The standard costs-of-children table built into the formula is, as Crystal puts it, "way outdated." It doesn't account for children with special needs, private school fees, ongoing medical expenses, or therapy costs. These can all support an application to vary the standard assessment.
If any of this applies in your circumstances, you can apply for a change of assessment.
What is a change of assessment in child support?
A change of assessment (formally called a departure application, or a change of assessment in special circumstances) is an application to the child support agency asking them to depart from the standard formula assessment.
There are 10 reasons under which you can apply. The most relevant for income and costs:
Reason 8A: access to financial resources. Use this when the other parent has access to money – through a business, assets, or other sources – that isn't reflected in their declared income.
Reason 8B: earning capacity. Use this when the other parent isn't working, or isn't working at full capacity, and you believe this is deliberate rather than for legitimate health or caring reasons.
Other reasons cover things like significant costs for the children (private school, medical, special needs), changes in care arrangements, and other special circumstances.
If you're applying on income grounds and not sure whether 8A or 8B applies, Crystal's advice is simple: tick both.
When you make this application, provide as much information as you can. The agency needs specifics to investigate – they can send information-gathering notices to banks, accountants, or employers, but they need a reason to do so. The more detail you give them, the better equipped they are to find what they need.
What are the stages of review if child support gets the decision wrong?
The review process has three stages:
Step 1: Change of assessment
You make the application. Child support assign a decision maker who reviews your case. Information is currently exchanged with your ex — they have the opportunity to respond, and you can respond to their response. A decision is made.
Step 2: Objection
If you're not happy with the outcome of the change of assessment, you can object to the decision. A different decision maker within child support reviews it again. Same process – exchange of information, opportunity to respond, decision made.
Step 3: Administrative Review Tribunal
If you're still not happy, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal within 28 days of the objection decision. This is separate from child support entirely. It's a full merits review – a new look at the case from scratch. You'll go through a conference call with the registrar, a directions hearing, and then a final hearing of around three hours. You can attend in person, by phone, or by video.
Crystal says she represented a woman who'd been through both the change of assessment and objection processes, had been told both times that her ex had zero income, and was almost out of energy to keep going. At tribunal, the decision was set aside, and the assessment was increased from zero to about $25,000 per year.
"If you know in your gut something's not right, push it," Crystal says. "Pursue it – because it is important that it is highlighted and brought to the agency's attention."
You can have a representative make written and verbal submissions on your behalf at tribunal hearings. You'll still need to attend and speak to your own evidence, but having someone experienced in the process with you makes a significant difference.
If you want to hear how the full process works and what Crystal's service offers women going through it, you can book a free call through her website: Child Support Consultants.
What is the agency doing about child support debt?
Right now, there is approximately $2 billion in unpaid child support on the system. The most shocking thing about that number is that it has been roughly consistent for some years now.
In 2025, the Commonwealth Ombudsman released findings from an inquiry into the child support scheme, recognising that the system is being used – and weaponised – as a tool of financial abuse, primarily against women and children. The 2026-27 budget has allocated $182.6 million into the child support system in response.
One significant change coming from July 2027: information submitted in a change of assessment process will no longer automatically be exchanged with the other party. This matters because many women currently hold back on what they submit, worried that details will be handed directly to their ex. That means decision makers sometimes don't have enough information to make the right call – not because you didn't have it, but because sharing it felt unsafe.
It's a small step. The $182.6 million doesn't match a $2 billion problem. But it is recognition that something is broken and needs to be fixed.
Can child support stop my ex from leaving the country?
Yes. If your ex has a debt and you have reason to believe they're planning to travel – you know their travel schedule, or they travel regularly for business – let Services Australia know. They can put a Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) in place, preventing someone from leaving the country until their debt is paid.
The agency also has a litigation department that can take a debtor to court when the debt is significant and all other collection avenues have been exhausted.
The key is to stay active. Keep communicating information to the agency. They can't act on what they don't know.
Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to this episode of Divorce With Carolyn.
Frequently asked questions
Does registering with child support mean I'm starting a fight with my ex?
No. The agency is a neutral third party. They don't take sides. You can register for an assessment while still collecting privately from your ex – nothing has to change in how the money moves. If your ex is pushing back hard against any form of formalisation or review by an impartial third party, that's information worth thinking about carefully.
What can I do if the assessment doesn't reflect what my ex actually earns?
You can apply for a change of assessment in special circumstances. There are 10 grounds under which you can apply – the most common for income disputes are Reason 8A (access to financial resources) and Reason 8B (earning capacity). Provide as much specific information as you can, and consider getting advice from a child support specialist before you apply.
What happens if my ex doesn't participate in the process?
They can choose not to engage. But child support can still make a decision based on the information available. In Crystal's case study, the other party participated in none of the processes – and still lost at tribunal, because the mother provided enough evidence to show his income wasn't zero.
What is a Departure Prohibition Order?
A DPO prevents someone from leaving Australia until they've paid their child support debt. If you know your ex travels regularly or has international travel planned, contact the agency and let them know. They can act on that information.
What is changing from July 2027?
From July 2027, information submitted in a change of assessment will no longer automatically be exchanged with the other party. Currently, everything you submit is shared with your ex – which leads many women to hold back on details out of safety concerns, meaning decision makers don't get the full picture. The new rules should allow you to provide complete information without it going directly to him
What if I'm experiencing family and domestic violence?
If you disclose domestic violence concerns to child support, they should adjust how they manage your case – they have a family and domestic violence model and can connect you with a social worker. If you feel unsafe providing information that will be exchanged with your ex, let them know. In some cases, the agency can also initiate a change of assessment on your behalf (a registrar-initiated change of assessment) so you don't have to drive the application yourself.
If you're in a situation involving abuse, please reach out for support:
1800RESPECT (Australia) — 1800respect.org.au — 1800 737 732, 24/7
Lifeline Australia — lifeline.org.au — 13 11 14
