Child Care Subsidy

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps families with the cost of approved childcare. 

To get Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you must:

• care for a child 13 or younger who’s not attending secondary school, unless an exemption applies
• use an approved child care service
• be responsible for paying the child care fees
• meet residence and immunisation requirements.

The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can get depends on your circumstances - basically your household income which determines your CCS Percentage; and the activity levels you or your partner does each fortnight which determines how many hours of CCS you can get each fortnight. (Please note that the Activity Test will be abandoned from 1 January 2026. All eligible families will get at least 72 hours of CCS from 1 January 2026). The CCS percentage declines by 1 percentage point for each $5,000 of your household income increases. Department of Human Services (“Centrelink”) pays this subsidy directly to child care providers to reduce the fees you pay. Please see the diagram below:

Our Flexible Session Options

Help You Minimise Out-of-Pocket Cost

We understand that each family has its individual situations and needs when it comes to your young child and your CCS entitlements. We are here to help you.

We offer three different sessions to help you maximise the CCS you can receive from the government, which minimises your out-of-pocket cost.

You can choose between:

• a full-day session from 7:00am to 6:00pm, or
• a 10 hour session from 7:30am to 5:30pm or
• a 9 hour session from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Based on how many hours of subsidised care you are entitled to, and your personal situations, we can help you choose the best session that meets your needs and minimise your out-of-pocket cost for childcare. You are welcomed to give us a call during our opening hours to find out how we are able to help.

If you have known your CCS percentage and hours, you can also use the CCS Calculator provided by the government for a free and discrete assessment for how much CCS you may be entitled to and how much weekly cost you will be paying out of pocket. https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/child-care-subsidy-calculator

Child Care Subsidy in 2026: Activity Test Changes and 3-Day Guarantee

From 5 January 2026, big changes are coming to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The government has confirmed the introduction of the long-discussed “3-Day Guarantee”, along with updates to how the CCS Activity Test works.

In this message, we are helping parents better understand the new changes with an easy-to-follow breakdown of what this change means for families, and how you can prepare.

Eligible families for the CCS will now have access to at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, that’s the equivalent of minimum 3 days a week for most families.

This change gives families more certainty. Even if your recognised activity hours (such as work, study, or volunteering) are low, you’ll still receive a baseline level of subsidised care.

While the 3-Day Guarantee provides a strong foundation, many families will still be able to access up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. This applies if:

• Both parents (if partnered) complete more than 48 hours of recognised activity each fortnight; or
• Your family has a valid exemption from the activity test.

In addition, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will automatically be eligible for the full 100 hours of subsidised care, regardless of activity levels.

Recognised Activity – What Counts?

The activity test is still an important part of determining your CCS hours. Recognised activities include things like:

• Paid work or self-employment
• Looking for work
• Volunteering
• Studying or training
• Participation in programs that build skills or capacity

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, you can check the full list on the Services Australia website here.

It’s important to remember that the CCS doesn’t always cover the full cost of childcare. Families will still be responsible for gap fees or out-of-pocket expenses charged by their provider.

The good news? With more subsidised hours guaranteed, many families are likely to see significant savings compared to previous arrangements.

What Does This Means for Families?

Parents with lower activity hours: You’ll receive 72 hours of subsidised care each fortnight, giving you more flexibility for work, study, or family needs.

Families with higher activity levels: You can continue to access the full 100 hours.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: Automatically receive the maximum 100 hours.

Families with exemptions: You’ll also be eligible for the full 100 hours.

How to Prepare for the Changes

With changes coming into effect from 5 January 2026, now is a great time to prepare yourself for the changes to ensure your family doesn’t miss out. You can do this by:

• Talking to our Centre Director to understand how the changes may affect your gap fees
• Talking to our Centre Director about availability to book in for 3 days per week in 2026 (if you currently only have 1-2 days booked per week)
• Checking your CCS eligibility to make sure you’re receiving the right level of support.
• Reviewing your activity hours – if you’re close to the 48-hour threshold, you may want to track your participation more carefully.
• Staying updated through Services Australia for further details and examples.

The introduction of the 3-Day Guarantee is a major win for families, helping to ensure that all children can access quality early education and care, regardless of their parents’ activity levels.

By locking in a minimum of 72 hours and keeping pathways to 100 hours of subsidised care, these changes aim to support families, strengthen workforce participation, and give every child the best possible start.