New edition of ‘Share the care’ parenting plan booklet now available

27 October 2025

Relationships Australia is pleased to unveil a new edition of Share the care, a collaborative co-parenting resource for separating parents.

Share the care provides current, practical advice and templates to help separating co-parents draw up a parenting plan while focusing on their children’s best interests.

Parents reading this booklet will find information about what a parenting plan is and where it sits within the legal system, and tips for making decisions about parental responsibility for finances, children’s living arrangements and education. The booklet also offers compassionate guidance for respectful and cooperative communication, decision-making, reducing conflict and where to get more support.

Over the years, clients have shared how this resource helped them to think more deeply about the process of co-parenting, gave them a framework to build upon, and made aspects of managing their recent separation a bit easier for both them and their children.

This latest version has been written to meet the evolving needs of separating parents in Australia, with contemporary examples of topics parents may wish to consider when negotiating a parenting plan. It also reflects recent changes to the Australian Family Law Act.

As well as templates for decision-making, Share the care includes pages where parents can record emergency contacts, and health and wellbeing information for their children, and a list of useful resources including contact details for relevant support services.

We hope that this latest version of Share the care will continue to support the diverse and changing needs of families navigating separation in Australia.