This research report explores the contexts, care arrangements, and co-parenting experiences of children whose parents live apart, using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The report examines a range of factors, including socio-demographic characteristics, parental mental health, parenting styles, care time arrangements, co-parenting practices, and financial support, and relates these to various measures of child wellbeing.

The report finds that socio-economic disadvantage is faced by children with parents living apart, and recommends that policy and family services account for and address it, especially for very young children. It also highlights the diversity of post-separation arrangements and circumstances, suggesting that policies and services must be tailored to meet the specific needs of different families.

Key findings

• Children with parents living apart are more likely to experience socio-economic disadvantage, particularly when very young.
• Children with parents living apart exhibit lower social-emotional wellbeing compared to children with two biological parents, and this cannot be entirely explained by demographic or family factors.
• Parenting styles are less positive in families where parents live apart.
• Care time with the parent living elsewhere tends to increase with the child's age.
• There are differences in how parents report financial contributions and child support.
• Parental conflict is strongly associated with lower social-emotional wellbeing in children.
• Children's satisfaction with time spent with each parent is positively correlated with the amount of care time they have with each parent.