Why I do what I do

What drives me

I've seen the child support system at its best and at its worst. I've seen it provide stability for children who desperately needed it. I've also seen it create confusion, frustration, and unnecessary conflict between parents who should have been supported better.

That gap — between what the system is supposed to do and what actually happens when a stressed parent tries to navigate it alone — is exactly where I work. My job is to bridge that gap. To translate the complexity into plain language. To turn anxiety into clarity.

Over 35 years, I've helped thousands of families. Mothers and fathers. High earners and those doing it tough. Parents in Melbourne and parents scattered across Australia and overseas. Each situation is different, but the underlying need is always the same: someone who understands the system and can explain it in human terms.

How I work with clients

My approach hasn't changed much over three decades, because the fundamentals haven't changed either:

• Listen first. Before I give any advice, I need to understand your situation properly. Not just the financial details — the human context. What matters to you, what's keeping you up at night, and what you're hoping to achieve.
• Explain clearly. Child support legislation is dense and technical. My job is to translate it into language you can actually use. If I can't explain it simply, I haven't understood it well enough myself.
• Be honest. Sometimes the news isn't what you want to hear. I'd rather be straight with you early than let you pursue something that won't succeed. Honest advice saves time, money, and disappointment.
• Stay practical. I'm not interested in theoretical arguments or technical gymnastics. I focus on what will actually work in your situation — the practical steps that move you from uncertainty to resolution.
• Keep it proportionate. Not every problem needs an expensive solution. Sometimes a well-written objection achieves what a tribunal hearing would have. I always look for the simplest effective approach.

Contributing to the field

Beyond my client work, I've contributed to the broader understanding of child support through writing and speaking engagements:

• Eight peer-reviewed articles as Child Support Editor for the Family Law Review (Thomson Reuters) — covering assessment methodology, enforcement, international matters, and legislative reform
• Published in the Law Institute Journal on depreciation and child support (Vol 79, No 9)
• Guest specialist on six episodes of the Tax Talks podcast, addressing the intersection of tax structures and child support
• Featured in the Northwest City News as a leader in family and child support matters

I write and speak about child support not because I need to, but because I believe the more people understand the system, the better outcomes families achieve. Knowledge genuinely is power in this area.

The feedback that matters most

After 35 years, the feedback that stays with me isn't about winning cases or clever strategies. It's the parents who tell me they finally understand their situation. The ones who say the stress lifted once they had a clear picture of where they stood and what they could do.

Child support touches people at a vulnerable time. Separation, financial uncertainty, worry about children's welfare — it's a lot to carry. If I can lighten that load by providing clarity and competent guidance, then I've done my job.

That's what gets me to the office every day. Not the technical challenge (though I do enjoy that), but the genuine difference that good advice makes in people's lives.