Child Care Subsidy Info Hub
Providing families with all they need to know about the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy Program.
What Is The Child Care Subsidy?
Help Families Access Quality Child Care
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) makes early learning more affordable for families with the Australian Government by subsidising a portion of your child care fees.
The amount of subsidy you will receive will depend on the following three factors:
1. The amount of income your family earns,
2. The type of childcare your child attends (for Sunkids Families, this will be centre-based care, or outside hours care for our vacation care programs), and
3. The amount of work-related activity you and your partner undertake each fortnight.
The Child Care Subsidy is paid directly to your chosen child care service to be passed on to you as a fee reduction. Families are then required to pay the difference between the fee charged and the subsidy amount.
Eligibility Criteria For Child Care Subsidy
Am I Eligible For Child Care Subsidies?
To qualify for a Child Care Subsidy, certain eligibility criteria must be met. These include:
1. The age of the child (must be aged 13 or under and not attending secondary school, except in certain circumstances).
2. The child meets immunization requirements.
3. The individual, or their partner, meets the residency requirements listed in the legislation.
For more information or assistance on how to complete other tasks, please visit the Services Australia website.
Subsidy Amounts and Calculation:
How Much Subsidy Will I Receive?
The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can receive depends on your individual circumstances. The subsidy amount is calculated based on three factors:
1. The amount of income your family earns – calculates the percentage of subsidy you will receive.
2. The type of childcare your child attends – calculates the dollar amount your subsidy percentage applies to.
3. The amount of work-related activity you do – calculates the number of hours of subsidised care you can receive each fortnight.
For more information or assistance on how to complete other tasks, please visit the Services Australia website.
1. Family Income.
Your Child Care Subsidy percentage is calculated based on your family’s income estimate. For 2025–2026 the figures are:
- $0 to $85,279: 90%
- More than $85,279 to below $535,279: subsidy rate decreases gradually (by 1% for every additional $5,000 of income).
- $535,279 or more: 0%
- If you have more than one child aged 5 or younger in approved care, your younger children may be eligible for a higher subsidy rate.
- When the financial year ends, your actual income will be confirmed and the subsidy you were paid will be balanced.
- If your actual income is lower than estimated, you may receive a top-up payment.
- If your actual income is higher than estimated and you were over-paid, you may need to repay a part of the subsidy.
2. Type of Child Care.
The subsidy percentage is applied to whichever is lower: your service’s hourly fee, or the Government’s hourly rate cap for that type of care.
Hourly Rate Caps: There’s a different hourly rate cap depending on both the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age.
For children below school age in centre-based day care, the 2025-2026 hourly rate cap is $14.63.
3. Activity Levels.
The number of hours of subsidised care you can access for each child per fortnight depends on your recognised activity hours (or your partner’s if they have lower activity).
The current levels (until 4 January 2026) are:
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Less than 8 hours of activity: 0 hours of subsidy if your family income is above $85,279; otherwise 24 hours.
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8 to 16 hours of activity: 36 hours.
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More than 48 hours: 100 hours.
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Coming from 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families will be guaranteed at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight ( three days per week) regardless of activity level.
Additional Child Care Subsidies
Help For Those Who Need It Most
If you’re eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), you may also be able to receive the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS): extra financial support for approved care when your family is facing particular circumstances.
There are four main categories of ACCS:
Additional Child Care Subsidy (Temporary Financial Hardship)
For families experiencing a short-term, significant drop in income (for example job loss, illness, disaster). Typically up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for a limited period.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (Child Wellbeing)
For children who are at risk of, or experiencing, serious abuse, neglect or harm. Will usually cover up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight and up to 100% (or in some cases up to 120%) of the hourly rate cap.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (Transition to Work)
For families moving from income support into work, training or study. Eligibility includes having an eligible income-support payment and a job plan. The number of subsidised hours per fortnight depends on your activity level.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparent)
For grandparents on income support who are the primary carer of their grandchildren. Up to 100 hours per fortnight may apply.
Each ACCS category has its own eligibility criteria, how many hours of care are subsidised, and how much of your care fees will be covered.
Note: These rules may vary and are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information about ACCS and to see which support you may be eligible for, please visit education.gov.au or servicesaustralia.gov.au