From January 2026, the Australian Government will introduce one of the most significant Child Care Subsidy (CCS) reforms in recent years - the 3 Day Guarantee, providing eligible families with 72 subsidised hours of early learning per fortnight, regardless of their activity test result.
For families, this change increases access to early education.
For services, it represents an important moment of transition.
And for educators, it reinforces the essential role high-quality early learning plays in a child’s life.
At Affinity Education, we’re committed to supporting our people, our teams and the families we serve through this change, with clarity, confidence and a strong focus on quality.
What Is the 3 Day Guarantee?
The reform ensures that CCS-eligible families with a child under school age will have access to a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised early learning per fortnight (around three days per week).
Currently, families who do not meet the CCS activity test receive only 24 hours - the equivalent of roughly one day of care.
From January 2026, this increases significantly, expanding access to early education nationwide.
Why This Reform Matters for the Sector
1. Increased Access to Quality Early Learning
More children will benefit from consistent participation in early education, particularly those who previously attended only one day per week.
This is expected to:
- strengthen early language, social and emotional development
- support continuity of learning
- reduce transitions that can be challenging for young children
- promote equity for children and families across diverse backgrounds
Discover the benefits of quality child care and early education here.
2. More Stability for Families and Services
The 3 Day Guarantee provides a baseline of subsidised hours, reducing the impact of fluctuating activity hours for parents working casually or intermittently.
This stability helps families plan ahead and supports long-term enrolment patterns for services.
3. Workforce and Capacity Considerations
With demand expected to increase in 2026, services across Australia are preparing for:
- potential increases in enrolment requests
- higher demand for places in the 0-3 age groups
- the need for ongoing educator recruitment, training and retention
- careful room planning to maintain quality and compliance
Affinity’s Learning Academy, our Centre Support teams, and our robust national recruitment pipeline will continue supporting centres through this transition.
What the 3 Day Guarantee Means for Affinity Employees and Educators
Educators and early childhood teachers will play a central role in supporting children settling into new routines and attending more consistently.
This may involve:
- building new relationships with children who increase their days
- supporting additional orientation visits
- revisiting routines and expectations for consistency
- delivering predictable, high-quality learning experiences
- partnering closely with families during the transition
Affinity’s Quality, Education and Compliance teams will continue providing resources, communication templates, and professional development as the reform takes effect.
What This Means for Families Across Our Centres
For families enrolled in Affinity Education centres, including Milestones, Papilio, Kids Academy and Aussie Kindies, the key impacts include:
More Flexibility and Stability
Families who previously relied on one subsidised day may now access up to three.
This opens the door to more consistent routines, stronger relationships with educators, and richer learning experiences.
No Negative Impact for Families Already Using 3-5 Days
Families who previously relied on one subsidised day may now access up to three.
This opens the door to more consistent routines, stronger relationships with educators, and richer learning experiences.
Predictability Around Fees
For some families, increasing subsidised hours may reduce out-of-pocket costs.
For others, fees will remain stable - the Guarantee does not reduce existing entitlements.
Preparing for 2026: Affinity’s Approach
To support our national community of practice, Affinity will continue to:
1. Provide Clear, Consistent Information
We will keep families and educators updated as Services Australia releases additional guidance.
2. Support Workforce Capacity and Development
Our Affinity Learning Academy will continue delivering high-quality training and onboarding to ensure we have the educators needed to meet future demand.
3. Ensure High Standards of Safety and Compliance
All Affinity centres continue to operate at high standards, with regular audits and strong Quality, Education and Compliance oversight.
4. Prioritise the Child’s Experience
More consistent attendance supports our work in delivering the Lifelong Learning Curriculum, encouraging stronger bonds, smoother routines, and deeper learning outcomes.
We’re Here to Support Our People and Our Families
As Australia prepares for the 3 Day Guarantee, Affinity Education is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our educators, teachers, centre leaders and families.
We will continue to share updates, resources and support as further information is released by the Government.
For questions or support, please reach out to your Centre Manager or our Family Support Team on 1800 244 532.
Together, we can help ensure every child receives the consistent, high-quality early education they deserve, now and into 2026 and beyond.