AustraliaMy child's other parent isn't paying child support. How can I enforce it?
You can ask the Child Support Agency (Services Australia) to enforce unpaid child support through deductions from wages, tax refunds, or legal action in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
What the Law Says
The Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 and the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 give Services Australia strong powers to collect and enforce child support debts.
If the other parent is not paying child support, Services Australia (formerly the Child Support Agency) can take several enforcement actions without going to court. These include deducting money directly from their wages, bank accounts, or tax refunds.
Services Australia can also suspend their driver licence, passport, or professional licences, and report the debt to credit agencies. They may also issue a departure prohibition order to stop them from leaving Australia.
If informal enforcement fails, you can apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for an enforcement order — but only after Services Australia has registered the liability and attempted collection.
Statutory TextThe Registrar may give a notice to an employer requiring the employer to deduct an amount from the wages of an employee who is liable to pay child support.
— Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, s. 72 — Deduction from wages
Statutory TextA person who fails to comply with a notice under section 72 commits an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding 60 penalty units.
— Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, s. 72(6) — Offence for non-compliance
Statutory TextThe Registrar may give a notice to a financial institution requiring it to pay an amount out of an account held by a liable parent.
— Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, s. 73 — Deduction from financial institutions
What to Do
Contact Services Australia on 131 272 or online at humanservices.gov.au/child-support to report non-payment and request enforcement.
Ask them to register your child support assessment and begin collection — this is required before most enforcement tools apply.
If you’re already registered and payments are still missed, request specific actions: wage deductions, tax refund intercepts, or a departure prohibition order.
If Services Australia cannot recover the debt or the other parent hides income/assets, seek legal advice about applying to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for enforcement orders.
Sources
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SingaporeNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.