Resources for parents
- The Child Support Agency
Supports separated parents to transfer payments for the benefit of their children. The CSA website includes resources for parents such as calculators for the Child Support Scheme and a secure online service to manage child support deductions. The CSA website also has a range of free information and support for parents and families affected by separation.
- Family Assistance Office
Offers payments to families to support their children. Family assistance and child support are linked. The amount of child support received or paid, shared care arrangements, and whether reasonable action is taken to obtain child support can all affect the rate of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A. This means that when changes are made to one it can affect the other.
- Australian Taxation Office
Taxation information is essential for the effective assessment, collection and enforcement of child support. The Child Support Agency uses Tax File Numbers as customer identifiers and to exchange information with the ATO
- Attorney-General's Department
Administers policy regarding family law. The AGD website also includes information about post Separation Cooperative Parenting and the Supporting Children after Separation Programs
- Centrelink
Administers income support payments
- Family Court of Australia
Assists Australians to resolve their most complex legal family disputes, including financial disputes
Legal Aid
Provides legal information, advice and representation for socially and economically disadvantaged people. A free telephone advice is available.
Support services
- Family Relationships Online
Provides all families (whether together or separated) with access to information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution
- The Family Relationships Advice Line
A national telephone service established to assist families affected by relationship or separation issues. Telephone 1800 050321.
- My family is separating – what now?
Provides a range of information and support services to assist children, parents and grandparents affected by family separation.
- Kids helpline
Kids helpline is a free 24 hour counselling service for kids and young people aged 5-25 years. Help is available over the phone, email or web.
Telephone 1800 551800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Raising Children Network
Helps parents fulfil their roles by providing centralised, Australian-focused, evidence based information for parents with children from birth to eight years of age
- mychild.gov.au
Provides information to families about Australian Government early learning and care initiatives and other issues that affect children
- Lifeline Crisis Counselling Service
Provides services that support and promote wellbeing, including a 24 hour counselling service and national service finder lists details of around 20,000 services and service providers around the country
- Relationships Australia
Delivers a wide range of services including counselling, family dispute resolution, relationships education and parenting skills training, men and family relationships programs, specialised family violence programs, early intervention services, child-focused programs, and programs which specifically engage Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families and communities
- Parents without Partners
Focuses on social, educational and support needs of single parents
- Dads in Distress
Support group for men going througdivorce and separation
- Lone Fathers' Association of Australia
A self help group that provides information, advocacy and referral
- National Council of Single Mothers and their Children
A self-help group that provides information, advocacy and referral services
- Shared Parenting Council of AustraliaRepresentative body for a range of parent, children, church and family law reform organisations
- kidscount - Australian Childhood Foundation
A website for parents all about childhood. Information that can help raise happy and confident children
- Parentlink ACT
Provides easily accessible and up-to-date information about parenting issues and family support systems in the community
- Centacare Brisbane - Family and Relationship Education
Offers a range of relationship education services including divorce and separation recovery workshops for adults and children
- Interrelate Family Centres
Provides personal and family counselling, family dispute resolution and relationship support programs
Other related Commonwealth government sites
State & territory government sites
Find family and community information and resources in your state or territory
Other related sites
National, state & territory councils of social service
Peak bodies of the community services and welfare sector, representing disadvantaged and low-income people
International child support sites
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Canada
United States