Every child deserves financial support from both parents — get what you are owed.

Services Australia uses a formula under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. It takes into account both parents' adjusted taxable incomes, each parent's percentage of care for the children, the number and ages of the children (using a cost of children table), and subtracts a self-support amount (currently indexed) from each parent's income. The formula produces an annual assessment which is divided into monthly or fortnightly payments. It is recalculated annually when tax returns are lodged, or sooner if a parent requests a reassessment due to changed circumstances.

There are ten specific grounds for a Change of Assessment under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989, including: the costs of caring for, educating or training the children are significantly greater than in the formula; a parent's income is not a correct reflection of their financial capacity (such as when they are deliberately earning less or directing income through a company); special needs of the child; or the financial support provided for a child of a new relationship. Applications are first considered by Services Australia, and if unsuccessful can be appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or taken to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Services Australia collection gives you access to enforcement powers — wage garnishment, intercepting tax refunds, placing charges on property, suspending passports, and in extreme cases referring the matter for prosecution. A private arrangement (informal or through a Limited or Binding Child Support Agreement) offers more flexibility but no automatic enforcement mechanism if it breaks down. Where there is a history of non-payment or dishonesty about income, Services Australia collection or a court-enforceable arrangement is usually the safer option.

Both parents are required to keep Services Australia informed of their current income. Services Australia uses the most recent taxable income from ATO records unless a parent notifies a change. For self-employed parents, Services Australia can request financial statements and tax returns. If you believe your ex is deliberately reducing their assessed income — by taking dividends as loans, directing income to a family trust, or working cash-in-hand — a Change of Assessment application can direct Services Australia to impute an appropriate income based on their earning capacity and lifestyle rather than declared taxable income.

Yes, in many cases. Australia has reciprocal enforcement arrangements with more than 30 countries, including the UK, New Zealand, the US, Canada, and most EU member states. Under the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, an Australian child support assessment can be registered in a reciprocating country and enforced there, and vice versa. If the country involved has no reciprocal arrangement, enforcement is more complex and may require commencing proceedings in the foreign country's courts. Legal advice is essential given the complexity and cost involved.

Child support is paid by one parent to another to contribute to the direct costs of raising the children, calculated by the Services Australia formula and enforced under the Child Support Acts. Spousal maintenance under the Family Law Act 1975 is a separate obligation from one spouse to the other to meet the financially dependent party's own living expenses — it is not for the children's benefit. You may be entitled to both child support and spousal maintenance depending on your circumstances. A family lawyer can advise on both entitlements simultaneously.