Custody Schedules in NSW — 50/50, Alternating Weekends, and Age-Based Options

Choosing a parenting schedule is one of the first practical decisions after separation. The right arrangement depends on your child's age, each parent's work schedule, the distance between homes, and how well both parents communicate. Under the post-2024 reforms, there's no presumption of equal time — you're free to design whatever schedule genuinely works for your child.

Here are the most common arrangements used by NSW families, with practical notes on when each works and when it doesn't.

50/50 Shared Care Schedules

Equal time splits work best when parents live close to each other (within the same school catchment area), both have flexible work schedules, and they communicate well enough to manage frequent transitions.

Week-on/week-off (7-7): The child spends one full week with each parent. Simple, predictable, and minimises transitions (only one changeover per week). Works well for school-age children who can handle a full week away from each parent. Hard on younger children who struggle with long gaps.

5-2-2-5: The child spends 5 days with Parent A, 2 days with Parent B, then 2 days with Parent A, then 5 days with Parent B. This creates a consistent rhythm where each parent always has the same weekday evenings, making school and activity logistics predictable. The maximum gap between seeing either parent is 5 days.

2-2-3: The child alternates 2 days with one parent, 2 days with the other, then 3 days with the first, rotating each week. This means no parent goes more than 3 days without seeing the child. Works well for children under 8 who need more frequent contact with both parents — but the frequent transitions can be disruptive for children who struggle with change.

50/50 and Child Support

At 50/50 care (176–189 nights per year), each parent's cost percentage is 50%. Child support is calculated purely on the income difference between parents. If both parents earn roughly the same amount, child support may be minimal or zero.

Alternating Weekends (Every Other Weekend)

The child lives primarily with one parent during the school week and spends every second weekend (Friday afternoon to Sunday evening) plus one mid-week overnight with the other parent. This gives approximately 30/70 care split (about 110 nights per year for the non-residential parent).

This is the most common arrangement when one parent has been the primary carer during the relationship, or when the parents live further apart and a 50/50 split isn't practical for school attendance.

Variation — extended weekends: Adding Friday overnight or Monday morning drop-off at school extends the weekend to approximately 120–127 nights, just below the 128-night shared care threshold.

Toddler and Infant Schedules

Children under three have specific developmental needs around attachment and routine stability. The FCFCOA generally supports:

Infants (0–12 months): Short, frequent visits (2–3 hours, 3 times per week) rather than overnight stays. Overnights are typically deferred unless the non-residential parent has been a primary caregiver (night feeds, bathing, settling routines).

Toddlers (1–3 years): Gradual introduction of longer blocks — one full weekend day or two 4–6 hour visits per week. Single overnight stays can begin if the child has a secure relationship with both parents, starting with non-consecutive nights.

Transition to regular overnights: By age 3–4, most children can handle a regular overnight schedule if both parents have been consistently involved in their care. The transition should be gradual — start with one overnight per week and build up over several months.

School Holiday and Special Occasion Schedules

Whatever your regular-term arrangement, you'll need a separate holiday schedule:

School holidays: The most common approach is splitting each holiday period in half, alternating which parent gets the first half in odd and even years. Some parents prefer taking the full holiday alternately — Parent A gets all of Term 1 holidays, Parent B gets Term 2, and so on.

Christmas/New Year: Typically alternated annually. One approach: Christmas Eve to Boxing Day with one parent, 27 December to 2 January with the other, swapping each year.

Mother's Day and Father's Day: These override the regular schedule — the child spends the day with the respective parent regardless of whose scheduled time it is.

Birthdays: Specify whether the child spends their birthday or the closest weekend with each parent. Some families split the day (morning with one parent, afternoon birthday party with the other).

Changeover Logistics

How you handle transitions matters as much as the schedule itself:

• School-based changeovers reduce direct contact between parents — Parent A drops off at school in the morning, Parent B picks up in the afternoon. This works for school-age children during term time.
• Neutral locations (a library, shopping centre, or community centre) are useful when parents can't be in each other's presence without conflict.
• Consistent times and locations — children adapt better when changeovers happen at the same time and place every week.

For a complete set of schedule templates, a care-night calculator, and guidance on building changeover protocols into your parenting plan or consent orders, the NSW Custody & Parenting Plan Guide covers every arrangement with age-specific recommendations.

See more New South Wales guides →