Australian families receive help with the cost of early childhood education and care (ECEC) through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
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From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families can now get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Families can get 100 hours of subsidised care each fortnight in certain circumstances. Find out more about the 3 Day Guarantee.
Help with the cost of child care
Child Care Subsidy
CCS is the main way the Australian Government helps families with ECEC fees. CCS is generally paid to providers who pass it on to families as a fee reduction. Providers must be approved by the department to receive CCS on behalf of families.
Services Australia is responsible for the general administration of CCS including processing claims, enrolments and payments, and communicating with families.
Learn about the Child Care Subsidy
Additional Child Care Subsidy
The Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) provides extra help with the cost of ECEC to families facing difficult or challenging circumstances. ACCS will usually cover all of a child’s ECEC fees.
Services Australia is responsible for the administration of ACCS including processing claims and communicating with families.
Learn about the Additional Child Care Subsidy
Subsidised hours for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Families can get 100 hours of CCS per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their family’s activity level.
Learn about the 3 Day Guarantee for First Nations children
Find child care
StartingBlocks.gov.au now includes new features to help families make informed decisions about ECEC.
StartingBlocks.gov.au is the one place where families can find and compare all ECEC services.
On StartingBlocks.gov.au, you can:
- find local services
- view fees, vacancies, quality ratings and inclusions
- estimate out-of-pocket costs
- compare services side-by-side
- see when a service was last visited by a regulator
- see any conditions placed on a provider or service and enforcement actions issued by the regulator
- explore provider profiles and the other services they operate
- get information and advice about education, quality and safety, children’s development and parenting.
Start searching on StartingBlocks.gov.au
Fee estimators
Families can learn if they’re eligible for CCS on the Services Australia Payment and Service Finder.
Families can use the CCS calculator on StartingBlocks.gov.au to check how much their out-of-pocket costs might be.
What to do if your service closes or has their CCS approval cancelled
Child care services can close for different reasons, including action taken by Australian Government or state or territory regulators.
If your service closes, they should tell you as soon as possible. They should also provide information about other care options.
The department monitors how CCS is used. We consider whether services continue to meet the requirements to receive CCS. This includes considering quality and safety obligations. If a service breaks the rules or doesn’t meet the requirements, we may cancel its CCS approval. Find information about services that have lost CCS approval on the Enforcement Action Register.
If a service loses CCS approval, it can no longer:
- get CCS
- offer CCS fee reductions to families.
Some services may continue operating if they still hold National Law approvals.
If a service has been suspended because of child safety or compliance concerns, you can check its status on StartingBlocks.gov.au. Information about state and territory enforcement actions, including suspension notices, will be displayed on the service's profile. Services that lose National Law approval cannot continue to operate.
If you have concerns, speak with your service first. If the issue is not resolved, contact your state or territory regulatory authority.
Finding a new service
You can search for alternative child care services on StartingBlocks.gov.au where you can compare vacancies, fees and quality ratings.
To improve your chances of securing a place:
- apply to more than one service
- ask about current vacancies if you need care quickly
- consider other options, such as family day care.
What happens to your CCS?
If you enrol your child in a new service, your CCS will continue and you do not need to reapply. The new service will confirm your enrolment.
Families experiencing difficult circumstances may be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy, which can help cover most or all child care fees.
Building Early Education Fund
Every family should have access to quality ECEC – no matter where they live or what their parents do.
To help deliver this, the Australian Government will build and expand ECEC services through the Building Early Education Fund.
We will build these services in areas of need, including the outer suburbs and regional Australia. This will make it easier for you to access quality ECEC.