From 5 January 2026, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) activity test is being replaced. All CCS eligible families can get 3 days of subsidised child care per week. These changes are known as the 3 Day Guarantee.
On this page:
The information on this page is for providers and services that administer CCS. Families can learn more about CCS and lodge a claim on the Services Australia website.
From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight.
Families can get 100 hours of subsidised child care each fortnight for each child if they:
- are caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child
- have more than 48 hours each fortnight of recognised participation
- have an exemption or experience exceptional circumstances, or
- receive Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship or grandparent payments.
Families can find out more about how this applies to their specific circumstances on the Services Australia website.
Families:
- do not need to do anything if they already get CCS
- must still pay a gap fee, except in certain circumstances
- must still meet entitlement and eligibility criteria.
What are the changes to CCS?
From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
| Your situation | Hours of subsidised care each fortnight per child |
|---|---|
| 48 hours or less of recognised participation each fortnight | 72 hours |
More than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight Caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child Approved exemptions Getting ACCS child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship or grandparent payments | 100 hours |
Between now and 5 January, the activity test applies.
What are the changes for First Nations children?
Families can get 100 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their family’s hours of recognised participation each fortnight.
Families should tell Services Australia that they have Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in their care, if they would like to get at least 100 hours of subsidised child care.
Families can update their details in their Centrelink online account.
It’s voluntary to tell Services Australia if a family cares for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child.
If a family chooses not to tell Services Australia, they may get 72 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight for each child.
What is guaranteed?
These changes mean all CCS eligible families are guaranteed at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight, equivalent to three days a week. Families are not guaranteed a place with a provider. Families will still need to secure a place with their chosen child care service and may need to pay a gap fee.
Where can families find more information?
Families can visit the Services Australia website to: