I look after the children but am not the parent

Not just parents can apply for child support. Others can too.

If you are, for example, a grandparent, brother or aunty and care for the children at least 128 nights each year (35 per cent or more of the year) (or they live with you) you can apply for child support.

You will have to apply for child support from both parents and the amount you get will depend on the age of the children, income of parents and how much time you care for the children.

You can only apply to receive child support from one parent if the other parent is deceased or living overseas.

Non-parent carers can be anyone who has care of the children and is not the parent of the children or a partner of the parent like an aunty, uncle or grandparent.