If your child has been going to childcare one or two days a week, this is worth two minutes of your time.
Back in January, the government scrapped the old activity test for Child Care Subsidy. It used to control how many subsidised days your family could access, based on hours you worked, studied or volunteered. That test is gone.
Here's the short version: every CCS-eligible family is now guaranteed at least 3 days a week of subsidised care, no matter what your work or study hours look like.
It also happens to line up with how most Australian families already use early learning. Productivity Commission data shows the majority of children in care already attend around three days a week, so this isn't asking families to do more, it's making sure access matches what already works for most households.
Six months in, here's what that actually means for you, and how to check it's already applied to your family.
Does this sound like you?
The 3 Day Guarantee was built for families who used to sit under the old hours test. That includes:
- You're studying part-time, or between study and work
- You're between jobs, or your hours vary week to week
- You're a stay-at-home parent with another child in care
- You're easing back into work after parental leave
- Your family is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
If any of those sound like your family, and your child is currently only in care one or two days a week, you may now be entitled to a third day without any change to your work or study situation.
For a lot of children, that extra day also means a more settled routine.
Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies points to socialisation and a smoother start to school as two of the most consistently reported benefits parents notice from regular attendance, alongside the predictability it gives children who thrive on routine.
How many days does my child actually get?
3 days a week (72 hours a fortnight) for every CCS-eligible family, automatically.
If you already qualify for more through work or study, you keep that higher amount. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are guaranteed up to 100 hours a fortnight, regardless of activity.
Worth knowing: the research on hours and outcomes is genuinely mixed, and more isn't automatically better for every child. What's more consistently supported is that a regular, predictable pattern, whatever number of days suits your family, helps children settle in and build relationships with their educators.
Check your entitlement in 3 steps
- Log into MyGov and open your Centrelink CCS details. Your approved hours are listed there.
- Check your family income estimate is current. It affects your subsidy percentage, separately from your hours.
- If your approved hours look lower than 72 a fortnight, call Services Australia or ask your centre's enrolment team to check it for you.
None of this costs anything to check, and it takes most families a few minutes.
The bit worth remembering
This reform means access to early learning is no longer something you have to prove your way into. Whatever number of days fits your family, a bit of consistency tends to be what children get the most out of over time.
If you're not sure where your family stands, our centre teams are happy to help you work it out, just ask.