Summary

10.1 This chapter begins by discussing two alternatives to Child Support Agency (CSA) assessments: child support agreements, and self-administration of child support. The chapter then addresses the treatment of personal information, including protection and exchange of information, and reporting threats of family violence. Finally, the chapter discusses the child support eligibility of carers who are neither parents nor legal guardians (‘informal carers’).

10.2 The proposed reforms in this chapter are in two main sets. The first set focuses on information management by the CSA. It includes proposed processes for dealing with offensive material on CSA forms, and providing higher levels of protection for the personal information of victims of family violence. The second set of proposed reforms aims to remove barriers to child support faced by informal carers. The ALRC has proposed these reforms as children may be in informal care—often provided by grandparents—as a result of family violence.