Child support payments

There are a number of ways you  transfer child support, whether you live in Australia or overseas.

If you have a formula assessment, an agreement or a court order registered with the Child Support Agency (CSA), you can transfer child support privately or ask the CSA to do this for you.

Paying child support privately (private collect)

Once a child support assessment has been made, you and the other parent can work out the most convenient way for payments to be made between yourselves.

You then need to agree how often transfers will be made, (for example, weekly, fortnightly or monthly) and how they will be made (for example, cash, bank transfer or salary deduction).

CSA collect

Once a child assessment has been made the CSA transfers child support from the paying parent to the receiving parent.

If you’re a paying parent you can choose whether to make weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments to the CSA and how to make those payments. Payment options include direct credit, BPay, Government EasyPay, employer deductions, at an Australia Post office or by mail.

Receiving parents can receive payments from the CSA by nominating an Australian bank account or by cheque.If one parent lives or is moving overseas, we may still be able to collect and transfer child support payments for the benefit of your children. However, the way payments are transferred will depend on your situation.

If you’ve arranged child support independently, you and the other parent will have decided when and how child support should be paid -  however, information and help is available if you need it.