One of the most important factors in child support is how much care each parent provides. Care is measured mainly by the number of nights a child spends with each parent, but even small changes in care percentages can make a big difference to payments.

How Care is Measured

Care is assessed as a percentage of time, based mostly on overnight stays. Services Australia uses the following ranges:

• 0–13% care: No regular care

• 14–34% care: Regular care

• 35–65% care: Shared care

• 66–86% care: Primary care

• 87–100% care: Full care

Why Nights Matter

Overnight stays are considered the most accurate measure of care because they include meals, accommodation, and supervision.

Example:
If a father has his child one night per week (14%), he is considered to have “regular care.” If this increases to two nights per week (28%), his child support may drop because he covers more direct costs.

When Daytime Care Counts

In some cases, regular daytime care (without overnight stays) may also be recognised, especially for younger children. However, the formula still places the most weight on overnights.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Even a shift of a few nights per year can move a parent from one category to another, changing payments significantly. This is why parents often dispute care percentages in child support cases.

Key Takeaway

Child support in Australia is highly sensitive to care levels. Parents should carefully track overnight stays and be aware that even small changes can alter payments.