This masterclass is designed for family lawyers who want to deepen their technical understanding, sharpen their strategic advice, and handle child support matters with greater confidence and precision.
Update your knowledge of child support, one of the most technically complex and frequently misunderstood areas of family law, while gaining CPD points.
Why this masterclass exists
Child support often sits at the intersection of:
- Administrative law
- Family law strategy
- Procedural complexity
This masterclass delivers hands-on, practical education focused on the issues family lawyers actually face in practice.
This masterclass is suited to:
- Family lawyers at all levels of experience
- Practitioners who regularly encounter child support issues
- Lawyers wanting to strengthen their technical confidence
- Firms seeking higher-quality, specialist professional development
Whether you’re early in practice or highly experienced, this session provides depth, clarity, and practical value.
Collection: Administrative Enforcement
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the administrative enforcement mechanisms available for collecting child support. This includes how Services Australia Child Support manages enforcement when parents fail to meet their obligations, such as through salary garnishment, tax intercepts, bank account garnishment, and legal action. You’ll learn strategies for advising clients on navigating enforcement processes effectively and ensuring compliance.
Change of Assessment and Objections
We cover the processes for requesting a change of assessment and lodging formal objections to child support decisions. Participants will explore the grounds for requesting a reassessment, including changes in income, care arrangements, or special circumstances. We’ll also examine how to manage objections, the steps involved, and how to support clients in presenting their case to achieve a fair outcome.
Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
Family lawyers will develop expertise in the role and function of the Administrative Review Tribunal. This includes understanding when and how to seek a review of Child Support Agency decisions, the procedural requirements, and the strategies for advocating successfully before the tribunal. Participants will gain insight into what decisions the ART can overturn or modify and how to guide clients through this independent review process.
Non-Agency Payments (NAPS and PNAPS)
We explores non-agency payments, where child support is managed directly between parents rather than through the Agency. Participants will learn the implications of NAPS and PNAPS for record-keeping, compliance, and legal recognition. You’ll be equipped to advise clients on the benefits and risks of self-managed payments, ensuring agreements are properly documented and enforceable.
Income Estimates
Participants will examine how income estimates are calculated when parents fail to provide accurate financial information or have irregular earnings. We’ll cover the legal framework for estimating income, the types of evidence required to challenge estimates, and practical approaches to advising clients on negotiating or disputing estimated assessments.
Post-Separation Income
This topic focuses on how post-separation income is assessed and considered in determining child support obligations. Lawyers will gain clarity on what counts as income – including employment, business, investment, and government payments – and how changes in income over time can impact child support calculations. Strategies for ensuring fair assessments for both parents will be discussed.
Child Support Agreements (BCSA / LCSA)
Participants will explore binding child support agreements (BCSAs) and limited child support agreements (LCSAs), including when and how they can be established. This section covers the legal requirements for enforceable agreements, the process for approval by the agency, and practical advice for negotiating agreements that suit both parents while remaining compliant with the law.
Care: Disputed Care and Interim Care
This module examines situations where care arrangements are disputed or require temporary interim arrangements. Participants will learn how disputed care impacts child support calculations, the role of interim arrangements while disputes are resolved, and strategies for advising clients on negotiating and documenting care arrangements to protect their interests.
Determinations
Finally, the course will cover formal determinations issued by the Child Support Agency or the tribunal, including assessments, care arrangements, and enforcement decisions. Participants will learn how determinations are made, the legal effect of these decisions, and practical approaches for advising clients on challenging or complying with determinations.
