Hedrick and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Hedrick against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the percentage of care for a child. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would necessitate a reassessment of the child support payable. The appeal was heard by R Ellis SM in the Magistrates Court.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine whether the Registrar’s decision, which found no change in the likely pattern of care, was correct. This required the Court to consider the evidence presented regarding the care arrangements for the child and to assess whether those arrangements constituted a "change" as contemplated by the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth).

The Court found that the evidence did not support a conclusion that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care. The Registrar’s decision was therefore set aside and substituted with a new decision to the effect that no change had occurred.