For many families in Australia, early childhood education and care is one of the biggest weekly expenses. In response to this, the Australian Government has introduced significant changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) that will take effect from 5 January 2026. These changes are designed to make subsidised childcare more accessible and easier for families to use — particularly by guaranteeing access to at least three days of subsidised care per week for eligible children.
At Altona Early Education, we want to help you understand what these changes mean for your family and how you can make the most of them.
What’s Changing With the CCS?
Prior to this reform, families needed to meet an “activity test” — meaning parents had to be working, studying, or volunteering a certain number of hours each fortnight — in order to qualify for subsidised hours of childcare. This test has now been removed as a barrier for the base level of subsidy.
From 5 January 2026, all families eligible for Child Care Subsidy will automatically receive:
- At least 72 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight for each child — equivalent to about three days per week at most childcare centres, regardless of whether parents meet the activity test or not. Department of Education
This reform is commonly referred to as the “3-Day Guarantee.” Department of Education
What the 3-Day Guarantee Means for You
Here’s how the new rules work in practice:
- Guaranteed Minimum Subsidy
If your family is eligible for CCS, you will now get at least 72 hours per fortnight of subsidised care per child without needing to show how many hours you work, study, or volunteer. This change is designed to make early learning more accessible for all families — including those who are not currently working or who have irregular work patterns. - More Hours Still Possible
If your family does meet the participation requirements (e.g., work, study, volunteering), you can still receive up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight — equivalent to around five days a week — as long as you meet those conditions. - No Change in Subsidy Rate
It’s important to note that this reform does not change the CCS rate itself — the percentage of your childcare fees that the government subsidises is still calculated based on your family income and other eligibility criteria. The change simply ensures a minimum number of subsidised hours for all eligible families. - Automatic Application
If you currently receive CCS, you don’t need to take any action for the 3-day guarantee to apply. Services Australia will automatically update existing accounts from January 2026.
Who Benefits Most?
The 3-Day Guarantee has been introduced to reduce barriers to childcare for a wide range of families, including:
- Families with unstable or irregular work schedules
- Parents on parental leave, between jobs, or studying
- Single-parent families
- Low-income families who previously received fewer subsidised hours
- Families caring for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children (who may access up to 100 hours with additional provisions) Department of Education
For many families, this change means significantly more subsidised care each week — making it easier to plan work, study, or community engagement while ensuring children benefit from quality early education.
What To Remember
Here’s a quick summary to keep in mind:
- From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible children will be entitled to a minimum of 72 subsidised hours per fortnight (about three days per week). Department of Education
- You don’t have to meet an activity test for those three days. startingblocks.gov.au
- You can still receive up to 100 hours of subsidy per fortnight if you meet participation requirements. Department of Education
- This change does not guarantee a place at a centre — it guarantees subsidised hours once enrolled. Department of Education
Have Questions About How This Affects Your Family?
If you want help understanding the new CCS changes, how they work with your current enrolment, or what it might mean for your childcare costs, the team at Altona Early Education is here to support you.
Contact us today for personalised advice and to discuss how you can make the most of the new subsidy changes.
Get in touch with our friendly staff for more information on CCS and your childcare options.
