As someone who has worked both for CSA more than 12 years and supporting parents externally now for 8 years the greatest risk, I see is people being encouraged to take steps to avoid or to leverage more CS artificially and the methods lead to more conflict.

So what have we heard people say?

• Just get more care of your kids!
  • Well yes if you see your children more you CS goes up/down or stops. However care should be based on what is best for the child to have a relationships with safe parents and extended family and CS is a consequence not a driver when being Child Centric.
  • Using care to reduce or pay more hurts parents and hurts kids. 
• Enter a “private” binding agreement. Well this is alarming as a Binding agreement is something that is registered with CSA. It is not private. If it contains Periodic (cash) payment from one parent to another it can still be collected by CSA. These need to well explained and can bring harm to both parents if not well done. Child support is collected privately or via CSA if there is a liability due and agreements can run on either collection method.
• Have another child, well if anyone thinks having a new child to reduce how much you spend on children and then potentially getting another future case. New kids should be as you want them and yes they may have an impact on the case but often parents find it quite non substantial in it’s effect on the amount transferred.
• Become self employed which perhaps leads to the most hurt and Chane of Assessments.
• Yes if you reduce you personal income the administrative assessment will reduce but, then parents can end up in a CoA process under reason 8 (Departure) which is very invasive and can often end in much more hurt and upset.
• Don’t take a payrise. This is potentially one of the most damaging myths. This leaves parents thousand of dollars out of pocket and without needed superannuation see quick example below. (Also ask about post sep income where you can earn upto 30% more first three years after split and not alter CS)

So this means the parent would have a greater net income before an CS contact for more than 12mths

The reality is that some people may in fact take steps to avoid or alter CS but these can come with more significant negatives than the $ saved or gained.