Shared Care Child Support Calculator Australia
Use this scenario when each parent has substantial care and you want a quick estimate before checking the exact care band.
Use this shared care child support calculator scenario when care sits broadly between 35% and 65%. Enter annual nights and both parents’ incomes so the calculator can estimate how care percentage and income percentage may affect the result.
Calculate your shared-care estimate
Enter annual nights and both parents' incomes to estimate a child support result for care between 35% and 65%.
Calculate shared-care child supportWhat changes the result
- Use this page for broad shared care from about 128 to 237 nights a year.
- Enter annual nights carefully because care percentage affects the cost percentage used in the estimate.
- Use the exact 50/50 calculator if care is equal rather than just broadly shared.
What this shared-care calculator scenario covers
This page is for shared-care arrangements where each parent has about 35% to 65% care. In annual nights, that is roughly 128 to 237 nights with each parent.
If care is exactly equal, use the 50/50 child support calculator instead.
How shared care affects the estimate
Shared care changes the care and cost side of the formula. The calculator still needs both parents' incomes because the estimate compares income percentage with the cost percentage created by care.
If your real question is why exact equal care can still produce a payment, read the full 50/50 child support guide.
Check annual nights before you calculate
Care percentage is based on overnight care across the year, not just the usual school-week pattern. Holiday blocks, rotating rosters, and make-up nights can change the annual percentage.
Use the care percentage calculator first if you are not sure which band applies.
Related guides
Authoritative sources
Frequently asked questions
What counts as shared care for child support in Australia?
Shared care generally means each parent has 35% to 65% care. Across a full year, that is roughly 128 to 237 nights, depending on how the nights are counted.
Should I use the shared-care or 50/50 calculator?
Use this shared-care scenario for any arrangement in the 35%-65% band. If care is exactly equal, use the 50/50 calculator because it keeps the estimate focused on equal care.
Can a parent still pay child support with shared care?
Yes. Shared care changes the cost percentage side of the formula, but income still matters. A higher-income parent can still have a payment even with substantial care.