Mother vs Father Custody Statistics in Australia

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) reports that gender-based child custody statistics reveal the following:

Mother’s role in child custody:

• Mothers are the custodial parents in about 80% of cases.
• Mothers are the primary decision-makers daily in over 90% of court-approved joint custody situations.

Father’s role in child custody:

• Fathers secure sole custody in roughly 10% of all instances.
• Fathers are the primary custodial parent in around 11% of cases.
• Joint custody is awarded to fathers in about 7% of situations.

Additional data shows:

• The court system determines custody arrangements by just 3% of separated parents, primarily those dealing with family violence, child safety concerns, and other intricate problems.
• 97% of separated parents avoid court to settle their custody disputes, with 16% seeking assistance from family dispute resolution services or legal counsel.
• Mothers provide at least 53% of the childcare in 83% of cases, while fathers do so in only 7%.
• Although perceived as gender-biased, 81.2% of sole custody cases are granted to mothers. 53% of judge-decided cases rule for primary parental responsibility, while parent-resolved cases result in shared parental responsibility 93% of the time.

These statistics suggest that Australian fathers are not systematically disadvantaged in child custody decisions. The courts aim to act in the child’s best interest, independent of the parent’s gender.

It’s important to remember that custody decisions are individualized, and there’s no universally applicable approach.

Why Do Mothers Have Higher Custody Statistics Than Fathers?

Reasons for higher custody rates for mothers compared to fathers in Australia include:

• Primary Caregiver Status: Mothers are often the child’s primary caregivers, making them more likely to win custody based on their close relationship with the child.
• Child Support: In many cases, the child is placed under the mother’s primary care while the father pays child support.
• Past Legal Preference: Before the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility Act) 2006, the law usually favoured mothers for custody awards, even when fathers had been the primary caregivers pre-separation.
• Shift towards Shared Parental Responsibility: Post-2006, courts in Australia have aimed for ‘equal shared parental responsibility,’ where parents are involved in decisions about their children’s future.
• Changing Family Structures: According to the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 42% of children under 18 lived in single-parent households, which continues to rise yearly. Additionally, the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that 20% of children live in blended families, which include step-siblings and step-parents.

These factors and statistics are essential for parents seeking to make informed decisions regarding child custody.

What Are the Child Custody Laws in Australia?

Child custody laws in Australia prioritize the child’s best interests above all else. This principle is outlined in the Family Law Act 1975, later amended by the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006.

The laws guide decisions on who the child will live with, their time with each parent, and other aspects of their care and welfare.

Critical aspects of these laws include:

1. Equal Shared Parental Responsibility: The 2006 amendment introduced the concept of ‘equal shared parental responsibility.’ This doesn’t necessarily mean that children spend equal time with each parent, but it means both parents have a similar role in making decisions about major long-term issues concerning the child. These issues include the child’s education, religious and cultural upbringing, health, and the child’s name and changes to it.
2. The Child’s Best Interests: The primary principle guiding the court’s decision is the child’s best interests. The court considers various factors to determine this, including the child’s views, their relationship with each parent, the effect of changes on the child, the capacity of each parent to provide for the child’s needs, and any family violence.
3. Living Arrangements: The court can order ‘equal’ or ‘substantial and significant time with each parent based on what is reasonably practical and in the child’s best interests.
4. Family Dispute Resolution: Before applying to a court for a parenting order, families must generally make a genuine effort to resolve their dispute through family dispute resolution (mediation).
5. Family Violence or Child Abuse: In family violence or child abuse situations, the court can make decisions that move away from the presumption of shared responsibility if necessary for the child’s safety.

The Australian family law system encourages parents to agree on parenting arrangements without going to court, where possible. However, in cases where parents can’t approve, the court system ensures decisions are made in the child’s best interests.

What Are the Types of Custody?

Several custody arrangements are decided with the child’s best interests in mind.

The terminology used in Australian family law changed with the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006, which moved away from terms like ‘custody’ and ‘access’ and started focusing on ‘parenting orders’ and ‘parenting plans’.

However, the traditional terminology is still widely used. Here are the different types of arrangements:

Equal Shared Parental Responsibility: Under this arrangement, both parents share equal responsibility for major long-term decisions about the child, such as their education, health, and religious upbringing. This doesn’t necessarily mean the child spends equal time with each parent.

Sole Parental Responsibility: In some cases, one parent may be granted sole parental responsibility. This usually occurs when it’s determined to be in the child’s best interest, such as child abuse or family violence. In these cases, one parent makes all the significant decisions about the child’s life.

Shared Care: This refers to arrangements where the child spends nearly equal time with each parent, usually an even 50-50 split if it is in the child’s best interest and reasonably practicable.

Primary Care: The child lives primarily with one parent, and the other parent has specific times to visit or have the child live with them. The non-custodial parent often has rights for visits, holidays, or other specific times.

Visitation Rights: Even if one parent has primary care or sole parental responsibility, the other parent usually has visitation rights, except in cases where the child’s safety might be at risk.

It’s important to note that the parents can decide upon these arrangements (often with the help of family dispute resolution services), and can be formalized in a parenting plan. However, if parents can’t agree, they may need to apply to the court for parenting orders.

Mother vs Father Custody Statistics in Australia

If you’re navigating the complex waters of child custody, trust our lawyers to be your ally.

Our expertise in family law ensures you’ll receive comprehensive advice and robust representation.

Don’t let statistics discourage you; let us champion your cause for your child’s best interests.

Contact Justice Family Lawyers today.