Families can get at least 36 hours of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their family’s activity level.
On this page:
From 5 January 2026, carers of identified Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children are entitled to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight, regardless of their activity level.
Families can get at least 36 hours of CCS per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their circumstances or activity level.
A family’s activity level affects the amount of CCS they can get.
Families may get more than 36 hours of CCS per fortnight based on their circumstances and the amount of recognised activity they do.
A family’s CCS rate will continue to be based on their income. Families must still pay the gap fee.
This measure is available to all CCS-eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
Families can read about getting more hours of subsidised care.
What should families do?
Families should tell Services Australia that they have an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care if they would like to get at least 36 hours of subsidised care. It is voluntary to tell Services Australia this.
Families can update their details with Services Australia via:
- their Centrelink online account through myGov
- Express Plus Centrelink app.
Families can get more information on the Services Australia website.
What should providers do?
We encourage providers to share this information with families.
We partnered with SNAICC, the National Voice for our Children, on resources you can share with families.
Flyer – Activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
A flyer about the changes to the Child Care Subsidy activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
Blog – Activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
A blog post about the changes to the Child Care Subsidy activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
Social media tile – Activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
A social media tile about the changes to the Child Care Subsidy activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
Find more First Nations resources at childcaresubsidy.gov.au
Why did the activity test change?
This measure was introduced on 10 July 2023. It directly supports Closing the Gap target 4.
Access to quality early childhood education and care is crucial to:
- helping children become school-ready
- improving learning outcomes
- improving development outcomes.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children are underrepresented in early childhood education and care. They are twice as likely as other children to be developmentally vulnerable when they start school.