Child support in Australia — How the system works and what to do when it doesn't

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If you've ever felt like the child support system isn't working — you're not imagining it. In this episode, I'm joined by Crystal Paduch, founder of Child Support Consultants and a former Services Australia child support caseworker, to talk through exactly how the system works, where it falls short, and what you can do about it.

We cover:

- Your two main options when you separate: binding child support agreement vs registering with Services Australia

- Why your ex saying "let's keep it friendly" might actually be a massive red flag

- What happens when a self-employed ex declares very little (or zero) income

- How to apply for a change of assessment and what evidence to provide

- The three-stage review process: change of assessment → objection → Administrative Review Tribunal

- The $2 billion in unpaid child support on the system and what the 2026–27 budget is doing about it

- What's changing from July 2027 that will help women share evidence more safely

I also share my own experience going through an objection process — and why it wore me out even as someone who works in this space.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Child Support Consultants (Crystal Paduch's support service for parents): https://childsupportconsultants.com.au/

Services Australia Child Support online calculator: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-support-estimator

Commonwealth Ombudsman report on the child support scheme (2024–25): https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/318460/Weaponising-Child-Support-when-the-system-fails-families.pdf

Administrative Review Tribunal: https://www.art.gov.au

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