Parenting arrangements and child contact
How we can help
Family dispute resolution can help couples who have separated to sort out disputes more quickly and easily than by going to court. Read more about our Family Dispute Resolution Service.
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Some community legal centres have specialist family law and child support services. Most services are free. See the Community Law website to find a centre near you.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview.
You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.
Family Relationships Online
Visit Family Relationships Online or contact their advice line to find:
- a family dispute resolution centre
- a child contact centre – where children can see their parents or where changeover from one parent to another can happen. Many contact centres also provide support programs for children and parents experiencing family breakdown
- other services that can help you reach agreement about the children.
Services Australia
The Department of Human Services has information for families, separated parents and carers about their payments and services.
Courts
If you cannot agree with your ex-partner or if your case is not suitable for family dispute resolution, you may need to go to court. In court, decisions about things like parenting orders and division of property can be made. The courts offer help, information and referral services. Go to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website for more information.
Court network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. They can also make referrals to other community agencies for support after the hearing.
If you want to see a Court Network volunteer, tell the court staff. You can also ring them before you go to court.
Family violence and support services
Family violence services are available for people who wish to leave, or have left, a violent relationship.
If you are experiencing family violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on ‘000’.
For more family violence and support services, see Violence, abuse and personal safety.
Resources for parenting arrangements and child contact
These resources will help you understand more about:
- separation and divorce
- keeping safe from family violence.
Our resources:
- Safe at home: how to get a family violence intervention order (also available in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese)
- You and family law: a short guide.
See a list of all our free publications and resources.
We also have these videos:
Resources from other organisations
Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia has free booklets about separation and parenting plans to help work out arrangements for the care of children.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has information about:
- The legal rights grandparents have when they are caring for their grandchildren. Includes information about applying for parenting orders and what happens when they are breached.
- Applying for parenting orders(opens in a new window).
- Parenting plans(opens in a new window) if you and your ex-partner agree on arrangements for your children. It includes parenting plan forms.
Child support
If you have any questions about child support, we recommend contacting Services Australia (Child Support) first. They are responsible for handling all child support matters.
Some of our child support information services are available to everyone, while other more intensive services are offered to people who need it the most.
To help us assess the child support service you need, please use the enquire about a child support appointment form.
Services Australia (Child Support)
Services Australia (Child Support) is responsible for handling child support matters. You can phone the Child Support Enquiry Line on 131 272 between 8.30 am and 4.45 pm.
The Automated Child Support information service is for parents already getting child support payments. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To use this service you need a Child Support Reference Number and a Personal Identification Number.
Support services for separated families also provides separated parents with a range of services to help them with their child support needs.
Services Australia (Child Support) also has:
- the Parent's guide to child support
- an online Child support/family tax benefit estimator to help you work out an estimate of your child support payments
- the Child Support Guide, a technical resource that sets out the administration of the child support scheme.
How we can help
Please note that our call-back and appointment services are limited.
However, we may be able to provide you with legal information relating to your query.
We also have a range of family law resources that can help you. We also have these videos:
Other organisations that can help
Legal services
Some community legal centres have specialist family law and child support services. Most services are free. See the Federation of Community Legal Centres website to find a centre near you.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost.
Support services
Contact the Family Relationship Advice Line if you need information on family relationship issues and advice on parenting arrangements after separation.
You can also go to Family Relationship Online to find:
- a family dispute resolution centre
- a child contact centre – where children can see their parents or where changeover from one parent to another can occur. Many contact centres also provide support programs for children and parents experiencing family breakdown
- other services that can help you reach agreement about the children.
Family violence and support services
Family violence services are available for people who wish to leave, or have left, a violent relationship.
If you are experiencing family violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on ‘000’.
For more family violence and support services, see Violence, abuse and personal safety.
Financial counselling
Community-based financial counsellors provide free, independent advice and advocacy for people experiencing financial difficulty. They are familiar in dealing with creditor organisations, including banks, debt recovery, payday lenders, utilities, telcos and government bodies (eg councils, Centrelink, Department of Social Services, Australian Taxation Office, Fines Victoria) on behalf of clients.
For telephone advice, or referral to a financial counsellor, call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
Other ways we can help
Contact us for free information and advice about parenting arrangements, child contact and how we can help you.
If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
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