Let’s be honest—no one sets out in life planning to enter the child support system (I know I didn’t!). But when separation happens, and you find yourself navigating it, you quickly realise just how out of touch the current system is with the real cost of raising children.
The government’s child support calculator (linked here) offers a basic estimate of what one parent should pay the other parent. Its is based on the income of both parents and the percentage of care of the children. That sounds fair right?
The problem is —it’s basic. It doesn’t reflect the financial reality of raising kids in today’s world, especially when the family once enjoyed a higher standard of living together.
Here is an example of an actual case.
Case Study: When the Numbers Don’t Add Up
Three children live full-time with Parent 1. The official child support assessment from the Child Support Agency? $45 per year—for three kids. That breaks down to about four cents per child, per day.
How is that even possible?
At the time of the separation, Parent 2 declared an annual income of $25,000. Parent 1 works full-time, earning around $75,000. Financial disclosures during separation also revealed Parent 2 going on multiple holidays, frequent dinners out costing $200+ per night, and regular entertainment expenses.
In reality, there was no way Parent 2’s lifestyle aligned with the income they reported. And yet, the system accepted it. The agency didn’t investigate further. Worse, this declared income and expenditure was not factored into the formal financial negotiations.
A System Blind to Reality
This case isn’t unique.
The current model does not account for:
- The children’s lifestyle before separation
- Costs like private school fees, private health insurance, dental, optometry, and psychology services
- Extracurriculars like sports, tutoring, music, or camps—essential to their development and well-being
When a family is intact, both parents often contribute to these expenses. But post-separation, the higher-income parent often defaults to the minimum payment and says, “Child support should take care of it.”
Spoiler: It doesn’t. And it never has.
Let’s Stop Calling the Minimum “Enough”
We need to stop pretending child support is a comprehensive solution. At best, it’s a starting point—the floor, not the ceiling. And holding onto the mindset that “child support covers everything” does one thing: it punishes the children.
The same children who had no role in the separation but carry the consequences.
The System Is Being Exploited
It’s no secret that the system can be manipulated. Some structure businesses to minimise their declared income. Others take on cash jobs or underreport earnings, all while maintaining a high standard of living. Overseas holidays. New cars. Lavish homes.
And yet, their financial obligation to their children is assessed on what’s “on paper”—not what’s real.
This isn’t just frustrating. It’s unjust.
Reform Can’t Wait
Currently, financial separation covers assets and parenting arrangements—but rarely tackles the true, ongoing cost of raising children. That discussion is often left to the child support assessment, which is fundamentally flawed.
We need a smarter, fairer model. One that:
- Reflects the lifestyle children were accustomed to before the split
- Considers the actual costs of education, health, and development
- Assesses a parent’s true earning capacity—not just what they report
We Can—and Must—Do Better
Child support is not a favour. It’s a responsibility. And the longer we rely on an outdated system, the more children fall through the cracks.
We owe it to them—and to ourselves—to demand better.
If you’ve experienced this system, I invite you to share your story. We need voices. We need pressure. And we need change.
Because kids shouldn’t pay the price for a system that looks the other way.
