Child Support Consultant • Melbourne, Australia

Simon Bacon

35+ years dedicated to child support

Simon Bacon

One of Australia's most experienced child support practitioners. Published author, former Legal Aid Queensland principal, and recognised authority in child support law and advisory services.

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About

Simon Bacon has spent his entire professional career in child support — a field he entered after graduating from the University of Melbourne Law School and discovering that few practitioners understood its complexities.

That early insight shaped a career spanning more than three decades. As Principal Lawyer at Legal Aid Queensland's child support division, Simon built deep expertise in the legislative framework, administrative processes, and practical realities that govern how child support operates in Australia.

After establishing his Melbourne-based practice at Normanby Chambers, Simon became known as one of the country's leading authorities in child support matters. His client base extends across every Australian state and territory, with parents, accountants, and other professionals seeking his guidance on complex assessment, agreement, and enforcement issues.

In 2025, Simon transitioned to an advisory model — providing the same depth of specialist guidance through administrative channels at a fraction of traditional legal costs. This reflects a practical reality: most child support matters are resolved through reviews, agreements, and agency processes, not courtrooms.

Simon Bacon at Normanby Chambers

At Normanby Chambers, Melbourne

Career

Key milestones across three decades of child support specialisation.

2025
Established Child Support Advisory Services
Transitioned to advisory model, providing specialist guidance through administrative channels at reduced cost.
2005–2019
Child Support Editor, Family Law Review (Thomson Reuters)
Appointed Child Support Editor for the Family Law Review, contributing peer-reviewed articles on substitution orders, amicus curiae appearances, pre-emptive declaratory orders, overseas child support, and the autochthonous expedient. Also published in the Law Institute Journal on depreciation and child support.
2000s
Founded Melbourne Practice
Established specialist child support practice at Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. Built a national client base spanning every state and territory.
1990s
Principal Lawyer, Legal Aid Queensland — Child Support Division
Led the child support division, gaining extensive experience in assessment disputes, enforcement, and agreements for vulnerable clients.
Early 1990s
Bachelor of Laws, University of Melbourne
Graduated and chose to specialise exclusively in child support — a field few practitioners understood at the time.

Areas of Expertise

Specialist knowledge developed over 35+ years of exclusive child support practice.

Assessment Reviews

Objections, change of assessment applications, income disputes, and Administrative Review Tribunal matters.

Agreements

Drafting and reviewing binding and limited child support agreements, including tax-effective structures and lump-sum arrangements.

Enforcement

Debt recovery through administrative and legal channels, including garnishee orders, DPOs, and overseas collection.

Overseas Matters

Cross-border child support collection, reciprocal country agreements, and international enforcement.

Tax & Child Support

The intersection of child support with Personal Services Income, trusts, salary sacrifice, and Adjusted Taxable Income.

Paternity

Parentage testing, presumption of parentage, court declarations, and their implications for child support liability.

Media & Features

Selected appearances and coverage.

Tax Talks
Guest Expert — 6 Episodes
In-depth discussions on child support payments, PSI rules, lump-sum payments, child maintenance trusts, and non-agency payments for the accounting and advisory community.
View on Tax Talks →
North West City News
Leaders in Family and Child Support Law in Melbourne
Feature article recognising Simon Bacon as one of Australia's eminent practitioners in child support, with nearly 40 years of combined experience with his partner.
Read article →
Family Law Review (Thomson Reuters)
Child Support Editor — Peer-Reviewed Articles
Appointed Child Support Editor for the Family Law Review. Published peer-reviewed articles on substitution orders, amicus curiae, pre-emptive declaratory orders, overseas child support, and the autochthonous expedient.
View full publication list →
Law Institute Journal
Depreciation and Child Support
Published article examining how business depreciation expenses are challenged under section 117(2)(c)(i) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. Vol. 79, No. 9, September 2005.

Get in Touch

For enquiries about child support advisory services, please reach out directly.

Contact Simon