Media Release
27 May 2008
NEW KIT SUPPORTS PRISONERS WHO ARE SEPARATED PARENTS
The Child Support Agency (CSA) and advocacy groups have combined to support separated
parents who are entering or leaving prison.
With the help of groups such as the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of
Offenders (VACRO), the CSA has developed prisoner information kits that outline parents’ child
support responsibilities and provide helpful advice.
VACRO Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Lott, said that VACRO supports CSA in reaching out to
all its customers, including prisoners, despite the unique challenges in communicating with this
group.
“It is important that parents who are in prison are aware of their child support responsibilities,” she
said.
“It is also important that we ensure they are not generating a debt, paying too much or too little
child support because they haven’t updated their income following their incarceration.”
For parents leaving prison, the CSA offers a wide range of useful resources, such as the popular
Me and My series of self-help booklets and the online Community Service Directory which can
direct them to local community services that can help with financial, emotional or other issues.
There is also CSAonline, a secure online service where parents can view and update their child
support information. These are all available on the CSA website at www.csa.gov.au
CSA General Manager, Matt Miller, said that the information kits are designed to make it easier
for parents in prison to work with the CSA to support their children.
“It is important that all parents are aware of their child support responsibilities and are informed
about the best way to maintain contact with the CSA,” he said.
The kits will be distributed to prisoner support groups and correctional facilities over the next few
weeks.
The CSA has worked with a number of stakeholder and advocacy groups across the country to
develop and distribute the kits, and encourages contact from others who’d like to be involved to
ensure all separated parents in prison are reached.
Ms Lott said: “The Child Support Agency has done a really good job in working with VACRO to
ensure these information kits provide the support needed for their customers, who are in prison”.
Media note: The CSA does not keep data on the numbers of CSA customers in prison.
MEDIA enquiries: Email media@csa.gov.au or phone (02) 6272 8370.
NEWS 
