Since January 2026, every family eligible for the Child Care Subsidy receives a guaranteed baseline of 3 days (72 hours a fortnight) of subsidised care, a welcome layer of certainty for family planning. For some families, though, the guarantee may not fully reflect their circumstances, and it's worth understanding whether more support is genuinely available.
What changed, and why it's worth revisiting
Prior to January 2026, an activity test determined how many hours of subsidised care every family could access, based on hours spent in work, study or job-seeking. That system has been replaced by a guaranteed baseline: every CCS-eligible family now automatically receives 3 days, irrespective of activity levels, with no application required.
The concept of assessed activity hasn't disappeared entirely, it has simply been repositioned. It now applies only where a family wishes to access more than the guaranteed baseline, up to a maximum of 5 days a week. Where 3 days already meets a family's needs, no further action is required.
Read more: Child Care Subsidy Update 2026: What the 3-Day Guarantee Means for Your Family
The two thresholds that matter
- 3 days a week (72 hours a fortnight): automatic, no additional steps required.
- 5 days a week (100 hours a fortnight): available where you (and your partner, if applicable) each undertake more than 48 hours a fortnight of work, study, training or job-seeking.
This threshold is assessed on hours undertaken, not income earned, so it applies equally regardless of role or salary. It's also worth noting that recognised activity can be a combination of types, for example, part-time work alongside part-time study can be added together to reach the 48-hour mark, rather than needing to come from a single source.
A considered example
Priya works four days a week in a hybrid role, while her partner Daniel studies part-time alongside casual work. Combined, both clear well over 48 hours a fortnight of recognised participation. Because Services Australia calculates eligibility based on whichever parent has done less, and Daniel's combined hours still exceed the threshold, their family qualifies for the full 5 days rather than the guaranteed 3. Had Daniel's combined hours fallen below 48 a fortnight, the family would instead have remained on the guaranteed 3 days, regardless of Priya's own hours.
Is this relevant to your family?
- You and your partner (if you have one) each undertake more than 48 hours a fortnight of combined work, study or training
- Your working arrangements have recently changed
- You are a single parent working or studying beyond 48 hours a fortnight
If none of the above applies, the guaranteed 3 days is likely already the right and most cost-effective outcome for your family. There is, however, genuine value in reviewing this periodically, particularly following any change in employment or study arrangements.
Answers to a few frequently raised questions
Will accessing additional days change my subsidy rate? No. Your CCS percentage is determined by family income, not activity, and remains unaffected. You will continue to pay the standard gap fee for any additional days accessed.
What if our hours fluctuate week to week? Isolated variation is unlikely to affect your subsidised hours. It is a sustained change in circumstances, rather than a single unusual fortnight, that warrants an update with Services Australia.
Does the assessment differ across multiple children? No. Eligibility is assessed per child, using the same family-level activity figures, so the outcome is generally consistent across siblings.
Why it can be worth checking
Consistency matters in early learning. Children generally settle more easily, and build stronger relationships with their educators, when their days in care follow a steady, predictable pattern rather than shifting week to week. For families who are eligible for additional days but haven't realised it, moving from 3 days to a more settled 4 or 5 can mean less disruption to routine, alongside genuine practical relief for busy working households. It's a worthwhile ten-minute conversation, even if the outcome is simply confirming that 3 days remains the right fit.
A considered next step
We understand that navigating subsidy detail alongside a busy family life isn't always straightforward. Bring your current work or study hours to our team, and we'll talk through whether additional days would genuinely benefit your family, and support you through any changes to your enrolment, at a pace that suits you.
Find your nearest Papilio Early Learning centre
Contact our Family Support Team on 1800 244 532
Use our Child Care Subsidy calculator to estimate your out of pocket costs.