Financial abuse is a type of family and domestic violence. When financial abuse happens using the Child Support program, it is commonly referred to as weaponising Child Support. Anyone using the Child Support program can be the victim of weaponisation. However, the indications are it overwhelmingly impacts separated mothers.

This report presents the findings of an investigation into Services Australia, the Government agency that administers Child Support. The investigation focused on the Child Support program and a small part of the Centrelink program that deals with Family Tax Benefit Part A payments. 

The report makes eight recommendations, including that Services Australia more effectively enforce payment of Child Support and comprehensively review their processes, and the Government introduce a Bill to amend the law to address limitations that impede Services Australia enforcement action, fetter information sharing within Services Australia, and require survivors of abuse to disclose sensitive information to their former partner.

Overall, the Ombudsman's recommendations seek to improve Services Australia's capabilities to provide better help to families being affected by Child Support weaponisation. Services Australia has accepted all recommendations. The Department of Social Services accepted seven recommendations and noted one recommendation. 

Key findings

• Services Australia is not doing enough to identify and respond to financial abuse through the Child Support program.
• Services Australia's actions were either unfair or unreasonable in addressing widespread manipulation and weaponisation of Child Support.
• Services Australia lacked policies, strategies and training to be able to proactively identify, monitor and respond to cases of financial abuse through Child Support