Child Support Consultant • Melbourne, Australia
35+ years dedicated to child support
One of Australia's most experienced child support practitioners. Published author, former Legal Aid Queensland principal child support lawyer and recognised authority in child support practice.
Get in TouchSimon Bacon has spent his entire career in child support — a field he entered after graduating from the University of Melbourne Law School, being admitted as a barrister and solicitor and then discovering that few other lawyers 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.
Simon established his law practice (Manby and Scott Child Support Lawyers) at Melbourne's historic Normanby Chambers in 2004. Thereafter, Simon became known as one of the country's leading authorities in child support law. His client base extended 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 shut down Manby and Scott Child Support Lawyers and transitioned to an advisory model. His aim was to provide the same depth of specialist guidance through administrative channels at a fraction of the costs traditionally charged by law firms. This reflects a practical reality: most child support matters are resolved through reviews, litigation in the ART, child support agreements, and agency processes, not courtrooms.
At Normanby Chambers, Melbourne
Key milestones across three decades of child support specialisation.
Specialist knowledge developed over 35+ years of exclusive child support practice.
Objections, change of assessment applications, income disputes, and Administrative Review Tribunal matters.
Drafting and reviewing binding and limited child support agreements, including tax-effective structures and lump-sum arrangements.
Debt recovery through administrative and legal channels, including garnishee orders, DPOs, and overseas collection.
Cross-border child support collection, reciprocal country agreements, and international enforcement.
The intersection of child support with Personal Services Income, trusts, salary sacrifice, and Adjusted Taxable Income.
Parentage testing, presumption of parentage, court declarations, and their implications for child support liability.
Selected appearances and coverage.
For enquiries about child support advisory services, please reach out directly.
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