What is the 3 Day Childcare Guarantee?
The Australian Government is introducing a CCS 3 Day Guarantee and this is what it means for you.
From 5 January 2026, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test is changing as part of the Australian Government’s child care subsidy changes 2026.
Eligible families will now have access to at least 72 hours a fortnight (approximately 3 days per week) of subsidised child care per child, regardless of their activity levels. This change is known as the CCS 3 Day Guarantee.
At Fair Foundations, we believe every child deserves access to the support and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and belong. The new 3 Day Guarantee helps remove barriers for families, making it easier to access consistent, affordable childcare, particularly for those experiencing vulnerability or changing circumstances.
These Child Care Subsidy changes are designed to support children’s development, strengthen family wellbeing, and ensure more children can participate in early learning during the years that matter most.
How will this benefit children and families?
These changes to the Child Care Subsidy — sometimes referred to as the new childcare subsidy 2026 — are designed to help more children access early childhood education and school-aged care.
By guaranteeing at least three days of subsidised care per week, families experience cost-of-living relief and fewer barriers to accessing quality care. Children benefit from attending regular early learning, with at least three days a week supporting their development, social skills, and school readiness. Consistent attendance also helps them build stronger connections with educators and peers, creating a stable and supportive environment.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 families will be eligible for extra hours of subsidised care in 2026. It’s especially helpful for families with low or unpredictable activity levels. With at least 72 hours of subsidised care each fortnight guaranteed, they can keep their children in consistent care and feel more supported in balancing family life and everyday commitments, with greater freedom to take up work, study, or other opportunities.
How the CCS 3 Day Guarantee will work
From January 2026, all CCS eligible families will be able to access at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (around 3 full days per week), no matter their activity level.
Families who meet activity requirements or have a valid exemption can still receive up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
Families caring for a First Nations child will also be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight.
FAQs: CCS 3 Day Childcare Guarantee – What you need to know
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government payment that helps make childcare more affordable for families. It can be used for Occasional Care, long day care, family day care, and Outside-of-School-Hours Care programs.
Most families are eligible for some level of subsidy, depending on things like household income, residency status, and the type of care their child attends.
To learn more, visit our Child Care Subsidy (CCS) page.
If you already receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), you don’t need to do anything. The change will happen automatically from January 2026.
If you weren’t eligible for CCS before, you may now qualify under the new rules. Families who haven’t applied before can check their eligibility and apply through Centrelink, using your myGov account.
Yes. Families will still need to pay a gap fee (the difference between your service’s full fee and the subsidy you receive), except in some special circumstances.
CCS is calculated based on your family’s combined annual income, the type of care your child attends, and the number of hours of care used.
For an estimate of your subsidy, you can use our CCS Calculator.
To learn more about the government initiative and discover how you can get the most out of your funding visit Fair Foundations’ Child Care Subsidy (CCS) page.
Yes. Families must continue to meet the usual CCS eligibility and entitlement criteria.
You can find more information on our Child Care Subsidy (CCS) page or visit the Services Australia website.
You can read more about the 3 Day Guarantee here.