There are always many responsibilities involved with raising a child, but these become even more challenging when the parents are separated. Shared parenting, or co-parenting, is becoming increasingly common in Australia, yet it often leads to confusion and disputes when it comes to arranging childcare. Who chooses where the child goes? Who should pay? And so on. This short guide covers some helpful ways to approach those issues.
Background: Parental Rights in Australia
Australian law stipulates that both parents have equal responsibility for a child, unless a judge says otherwise. This means that, despite their differences, parents should speak to each other and reach an agreement on big decisions like childcare, even if the child spends more time with one parent.
How to Approach the Discussion
When you meet with your former partner to discuss childcare, you should both try to prioritise your child’s interests over your own. At this early stage of development, it is important for them to have a stable routine, so you should both try to minimize disruption to the child’s status quo.
For instance, if one parent lives in central Sydney and only sees the child occasionally, while the other lives in the suburb of Liverpool, then Liverpool childcare providers would be the more appropriate choice. Going to childcare for the first time is daunting enough for most young children. This is not the right time for the other parent to decide they want to spend more time with the child and argue for a provider that is more accessible for them.
Who is Expected to Pay?
If you already have a custody solution in place and child support payments are a part of that, then childcare may already be factored into the calculation. You can find this out from the Child Support Agency. However, if that is not the case, then equal parental responsibility means that the parents must reach their own agreement.
Once an agreement has been reached, be sure to keep detailed records of expenses and payments related to childcare so that you can avoid disputes in the future.
How to Resolve Disputes
It is not unusual for newly separated parents to struggle to reach agreements, or to deliberately frustrate and provoke each other. There are mediation services that can help the parents to reach an agreement, such as the Family Relationship Centre.
Conclusion
The separation of parents with young children is an emotionally complex situation, and the law provides little guidance on making childcare decisions. However, by being practical and keeping the child’s best interests in mind, good decisions for their future can still be made.