The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the primary government assistance in Australia designed to aid families in covering childcare expenses. The subsidy amount you receive depends on your family circumstances and income, which can cover up to 90% of childcare costs.
With CCS, more families can access quality programs such as our Rise then Shine morning program, Stay and Play after school program, and our Holiday HQ school holiday programs at a very affordable rate.
The subsidy is paid directly to your child care provider, reducing the fees you pay out of pocket.
The amount of subsidy you receive depends on:
Benefits of CCS
Reduces the cost of care
The subsidy is paid directly to your provider, lowering your out-of-pocket fees.
Makes quality care more affordable
Access Outside School Hours Care and holiday programs without financial stress.
Supports your family’s routine
Enjoy flexible before school, after school and holiday care options that work around your schedule.
Applies automatically
Payments go directly to your OSHC provider, making billing and budgeting easier.
Income and Subsidy - Standard Rate
| Combined Family Income | Subsidy Percentage of Fees Charged |
|---|---|
| Up to $85,279 | 90% |
| More than $95,279 to below $535,279 | Between 90% and 0%. The percentage goes down by 1% for every $5,000 of income your family earns above $85,279 |
| $535,279 or more | 0% |
Subsidised Hours of Care based on Activity Hours (effective 5 January 2026)
| Hours of recognised activity per fortnight | Hours of subsidised child care each fortnight |
|---|---|
| Less than 48 hours | 72 hours |
| More than 48 hours | 100 hours |
You need to do a recognised activity to be eligible for CCS.
Recognised activities can include any of the following:
Recognised activities can include any of the following:
See how CCS works in real life
Maximum CCS Rate
Charlotte has one child, Flynn who attends Helping Hands Network 3 days a week. Her combined family income is $75,000, where Charlotte works full-time. Flynn will get the maximum standard CCS rate of 90%. This is because they’re the only CCS eligible child in child care and the family income is under $85,279.
Below Maximum CCS Rate
Jack and Emma, have one child, Lucy aged 9, who attends Helping Hands Network 2 days a week. Emma works full-time while Jack works part-time. Their combined family income is 130,000. As the maximum standard CCS rate of 90% goes down by 1% for every $5,000 of income earned above $85,279, Jack and Emma will get a CCS rate of 81% for Lucy.
From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families will receive a minimum of 72 subsidised hours of childcare per fortnight, regardless of the family’s hours of recognised activity. For OSHC, this is approximately 6 days of Holiday HQ per fortnight and stretches even further for term time sessions, Rise then Shine & Stay and Play!
Use the Child Care Subsidy calculator to understand new child care rates and fees and discover how you can apply for CCS.
Check out this video by Services Australia for more information on CCS and your eligibility.
If you receive Centrelink social security payments and have questions or need to update your information, we recommend visiting the Services Australia website. Their support staff can assist you further. Visit the Services Australia contact us page for more information.
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