The 3-Day Guarantee Explained. What Actually Changes for Gold Coast Families in 2026.
A rule change that came into effect on 5 January 2026 means Gold Coast families can access subsidised childcare three days a week — without proving they work, study, or volunteer a single hour.
(family on $80K, Gold Coast avg fee)
full fees, same family
If you've been putting off childcare because the cost felt out of reach — or because you weren't working enough hours to qualify for a meaningful subsidy — this one's worth reading carefully. The 3-Day Guarantee is the biggest structural shift to childcare subsidies since 2018. It doesn't just tweak the numbers. It changes who can access affordable care entirely.
What is the 3-Day Guarantee, exactly?
Put simply: from 5 January 2026, every family that is eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is guaranteed a minimum of 72 subsidised hours of childcare per fortnight — no questions asked about whether you work, study, train, or volunteer.
Before this change, the Activity Test determined how many subsidised hours you could access. Families who weren't working enough were capped at just 24 subsidised hours per fortnight — three days worth of care, but paid at rates with minimal subsidy beyond that lower tier.
The 3-Day Guarantee removes that floor for the first 72 hours. You get them automatically. If you work more, your entitlement can still increase above that — but those three days are locked in regardless.
The key change in one sentence
Before 5 January 2026, low-activity families could only access 24 subsidised hours per fortnight. Now every eligible family gets at least 72 — triple the previous minimum.
Who qualifies?
The 3-Day Guarantee applies to you if you're already eligible for the Child Care Subsidy. That means meeting the standard CCS criteria:
Australian residency
You or your child must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a specified visa.
Immunisation
Your child must be up to date on the Australian Immunisation Register (or hold an approved exemption).
Approved care service
Your child attends an approved provider like Little Scholars. All 17 of our campuses qualify.
If you're already receiving CCS, the 3-Day Guarantee applied to your account automatically from 5 January 2026 — no new application required. If you haven't yet applied for CCS, you'll need to do that through myGov before the subsidy kicks in.
What does it actually cost? The Gold Coast numbers.
The Gold Coast average daily childcare fee sits at around $131 per day, based on CareforKids data. Here's what three days per week looks like at different income levels under 2025–26 CCS rates.
| Household Income | CCS Rate | Govt pays (per day) | You pay (per day) | Your cost: 3 days/wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $83,280 | 90% | ~$117.90 | ~$13.10 | ~$39/wk |
| $100,000 | ~80% | ~$104.80 | ~$26.20 | ~$79/wk |
| $130,000 | ~65% | ~$85.15 | ~$45.85 | ~$138/wk |
| $160,000 | ~50% | ~$65.50 | ~$65.50 | ~$197/wk |
| Above $530,000 | 0% | $0 | $131.00 | $393/wk |
| Estimates based on Gold Coast avg daily fee of $131 and 2025–26 CCS rates. Get a personalised figure → use our CCS Calculator | ||||
More than subsidy. It's access.
For a family on $80,000 choosing three days of care, the difference between the old system and the 3-Day Guarantee can be more than $17,000 per year in subsidised hours they previously couldn't access without meeting the Activity Test.
That's the part worth sitting with. Not just a reduction in what you pay per day — but access to days of care that simply weren't available to you before, at meaningful subsidy rates.
What happens if you do work or study?
The Activity Test hasn't been scrapped — it's still relevant if you want more than 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Think of the 3-Day Guarantee as a floor, not a ceiling.
Activity Test tiers from 5 January 2026
0–7 hours of activity per fortnight → 72 subsidised hours guaranteed (the 3-Day Guarantee)
8–16 hours per fortnight → up to 72 subsidised hours (the guarantee covers this tier fully)
17–47 hours per fortnight → up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight
48+ hours per fortnight → up to 120 subsidised hours per fortnight
If you're working full-time, the Activity Test still works in your favour for additional hours. But if you're between jobs, studying part-time, caring for another family member, or simply at home with your child — the 3-Day Guarantee means childcare is now genuinely accessible without proving your worth to a government system first.
What do Gold Coast families need to do right now?
If you're already on CCS:
Nothing. The 3-Day Guarantee applied to your account automatically from 5 January 2026. No re-application or re-confirmation needed.
If you haven't applied for CCS yet:
Apply through myGov as soon as possible. Once approved, you'll have access to the guaranteed 72 hours immediately. Our team can walk you through the process — just get in touch.
If you're currently paying full fees because you weren't meeting the Activity Test, it's worth reviewing your subsidy entitlement now. Many Gold Coast families will find they're eligible for significantly more support than they assumed.
Use our CCS Calculator to get an estimate based on your household income and the number of days you're considering. It takes about 60 seconds.
Common questions from Gold Coast families
Does the 3-Day Guarantee apply to all childcare types?
It applies to centre-based daycare — the kind offered at Little Scholars. It does not currently apply to family daycare or in-home care in the same way. Always check with Services Australia for the most current eligibility rules.
My child is only two — do they qualify?
Yes. The 3-Day Guarantee applies from birth to the age your child starts school, as long as you meet the standard CCS eligibility criteria. The child's age is not a limiting factor for the guarantee itself.
Can I split the 72 hours across different days?
The 72 hours is a per-fortnight entitlement that applies to your family regardless of which approved service your child attends. You can use it across up to three days per week — or spread it differently depending on your session hours.
Is the 3-Day Guarantee permanent?
It is government policy as of January 2026. Like all subsidy settings, it could change in future federal budgets. We'll keep this page updated as any changes are announced.
Do Little Scholars campuses have availability?
Availability varies by campus and age group. With 17 campuses across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, and Redland Bay, we'd encourage you to enquire early — especially for the under-2 rooms. Contact your nearest campus →
Little Scholars School of Early Learning
Find out what the 3-Day Guarantee means for your family.
Our team can walk you through exactly what you're entitled to — and check availability across our campuses on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, and Redland Bay.
17 campuses across South East Queensland · 1300 896 139
Subsidy figures based on 2025–26 CCS rates published by Services Australia and the Department of Education. Gold Coast average daily fee of $131 sourced from CareforKids.com.au. Out-of-pocket estimates are indicative only and based on the hourly rate cap; actual costs may vary depending on your provider's fees and individual circumstances. Always verify your CCS entitlement via Services Australia or a registered CCS adviser.
