Child Support Agency (Australia)

The Child Support Agency (CSA) was an Australian Government organisation which was established in 1988 to administer the assessment and collection of child support under the Australian Government's Child Support Scheme.

In 2011 the Child Support Agency ceased to exist when Child Support became one of the Master Programs of the Australian Government Department of Human Services. It is no longer a government agency as it is not authorised or empowered by the Australian Parliament in current legislation to assess, register or collect child support liabilities.

This is done under the current legislative framework by the Department of Human Services Child Support.

Although the colloquial term "Child Support Agency" and associated acronym "CSA" are commonly used by some people purely as a habit following the cessation of the agency in 2011.

The CSA was responsible for administering the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 which sets out the calculation of child support, based on a formula encompassing the income of the parent/s, care arrangements of the children, ages of the children, other dependants and a number of other factors; and the Child Support (Registration and Collection Act) 1988 regarding to the transfer and collection of the calculated payments, including enforcement of unpaid amounts.

The CSA had approximately 1.5 million customers and employs over 4,000 staff. The system costs 3.4 billion dollars per annum to administer.

While it was one of the most complained about Australian Government agencies, the Australian Child Support Agency was recognized as a world leader in terms of effectiveness and efficiency at administering child support.

The standard formula calculated the majority of the 1.5 million cases administered, the formula is set up in such a way that a new amount is generally calculated on an annual basis as incomes change and children grow older, or if there are any changes to the care arrangements, birth of new children and so on.

In some circumstances parents could make their own agreements as to what child support was paid, also there were provisions for agency review of individual formula assessments in special circumstances, and the courts may also set amounts payable should either or both parents seek a court ruling on the matter.

Transfer of payments could be made independently of the agency (approximately 46% of cases) or via the agency as either a voluntary arrangement, or through enforcement. Voluntary payments could be made through payroll deductions, deductions from welfare payments, internet transfers or payment at Australia Post outlets.

Under the Child Support Agency, enforcement could range from the involuntary garnishee from salary and bank accounts, to litigation and restrictions on overseas travel until payment has been made.

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