Use our free Child Care Subsidy calculator to instantly see what you'll pay at Little Scholars. At Little Scholars, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality early education — and the CCS helps make that a reality by reducing out-of-pocket childcare costs for eligible families.
Results based on Services Australia 2025–26 rates. Indicative only. Licensed calculator © Child Care Subsidy Calculator ABN 13 606 406 600.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps make premium early learning more affordable by reducing the out-of-pocket cost of childcare for eligible families. And from January 2026, it's getting even better.
Under the new 3-Day Guarantee, eligible families will receive subsidised care for a minimum of three days per week — regardless of work, study or volunteering hours. That means greater access to quality early education for more Queensland families.
Book a tour →From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families will receive at least three full days of subsidised care every week — that's 72 hours per fortnight — regardless of activity level.
| Combined family income | CCS rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $83,280 | Up to 90% |
| $83,280 – $533,280 | Tapered |
| Multiple children under 5 | Up to 95% |
| Above $533,280 | Not eligible |
Source: Services Australia — rates current as at July 2025.
From 5 January 2026, the government will introduce the 3-Day Guarantee. For many families, this is a big step forward.
All CCS-eligible families will have access to at least three full days of subsidised care every week, regardless of how much they work, study, or volunteer. This equals around 72 subsidised hours of care per fortnight. For families who currently only qualify for 24 or 36 hours under the Activity Test, this means more hours of support and greater flexibility.
Families who do meet the activity test will continue to be able to access up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight, while First Nations families will also receive up to 100 subsidised hours, no matter their activity level.
What this means for your family
The new changes mean less stress about meeting work or study requirements just to qualify for child care support. Families who may have previously missed out on CCS hours will now receive guaranteed support.
Put simply, these changes are giving families more affordable access to early education and children's development — and at Little Scholars, we're here to help you make the most of them.
Read more about CCS changes in 2026 →The Australian Government helps make child care more affordable for families through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The subsidy is paid directly to your childcare provider — like Little Scholars — and is deducted from your fees, so you only pay the gap.
Activity-based approved hours
2025–26 hourly rate caps
The subsidy applies to whichever is lower — your actual fee or the hourly rate cap.
To receive the CCS, families need to meet some general requirements. You must be responsible for paying the childcare fees, your child must be 13 or under and not attending secondary school, and your child must meet immunisation requirements. Your child must also attend an approved childcare service — like Little Scholars.
If your family circumstances change — income, work hours, or the number of children in care — it's important to update your details with Services Australia to ensure your subsidy is accurate.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
Families can now receive at least 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care, regardless of the activity test. Learn more →
You can apply for CCS through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. We recommend starting the process before or at the time of enrolment.
Once your child's enrolment is confirmed at Little Scholars, you'll need to finalise a Complying Written Agreement (CWA) with us. This allows the subsidy to be applied to your account.
It's worth gathering documents in advance — proof of income, immunisation records, and details of your recognised activity hours.
Our enrolments team is here to help every step of the way. Call us on 1300 896 139 or book a tour at your nearest Little Scholars campus.
We know navigating the CCS can feel overwhelming, but you're not on your own. Our team is here to walk you through the subsidy process, help you understand what you're entitled to, and make sure the transition into care is as smooth as possible for your whole family.
Call our Enrolments Officer on 1300 896 139 for support with CCS, or book a tour at your nearest Little Scholars campus.
Families earning up to $83,280 a year may be eligible for a subsidy of up to 90% off their daily childcare fees. If your family income is between $83,280 and $533,280, you may still receive a subsidy but the percentage reduces as income increases. Families with more than one child aged 5 or under may be entitled to a higher subsidy of up to 95% for younger siblings. Use our free calculator above to get your personalised estimate.
From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families will have access to at least three full days of subsidised care every week, regardless of how much they work, study, or volunteer. This equals around 72 subsidised hours of care per fortnight. Families who meet the activity test can still access up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight.
CCS is personalised to your situation. Factors such as family income, recognised activity (work, study or volunteering), and type of childcare all affect how much you receive. The subsidy is applied to the lower of the actual fee charged or the government hourly rate cap for your care type.
To receive the CCS, you must be responsible for paying the childcare fees, your child must be 13 or under and not attending secondary school, and your child must meet immunisation requirements. Your child must also attend an approved childcare service such as Little Scholars.
You can apply for CCS through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. We recommend starting the process before or at the time of enrolment. Once your child's enrolment is confirmed at Little Scholars, you'll need to finalise a Complying Written Agreement (CWA) with us. Call 1300 896 139 or book a tour at your nearest campus.
Families can now receive at least 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care, regardless of the activity test. This is part of the government's commitment to supporting First Nations children's access to early education.
Wondering what you'll pay at your nearest Little Scholars campus?
Contact UsWith 17 campuses across South East Queensland — Gold Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich and Redland Bay — there's a Little Scholars close to home.
At Little Scholars, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality early education.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps make premium early learning more affordable by reducing the out-of-pocket costs for eligible families.
Under the proposed 3-day guarantee, eligible families will receive subsidised care for a minimum of three days per week, regardless of their level of work, study, or volunteering. This change has the potential to open the door for more children to benefit from high-quality early learning during their most important developmental years.
From 5 January 2026, the government will introduce the 3-Day Guarantee. For many families, this is a big step forward.
All CCS-eligible families will have access to at least three full days of subsidised care every week, regardless of how much you work, study, or volunteer. This equals around 72 subsidised hours of care per fortnight. For families who currently only qualify for 24 or 36 hours under the Activity Test, this means more hours of support and greater flexibility.
Families who do meet the activity test will continue to be able to access up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight, while First Nations families will also receive up to 100 subsidised hours, no matter their activity level.
The new changes mean less stress about meeting work or study requirements just to qualify for child care support. Families who may have previously missed out on CCS hours will now receive guaranteed support. It also means more affordable access, more flexibility in choosing days, and more opportunities for your child to learn, grow, and build friendships.
Put simply, these changes are giving families more affordable access to Early Education and children the strong start they deserve
The Australian Government helps make child care more affordable for families through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). How much CCS you receive depends on your combined household income and the results of the CCS activity test.
Here’s what that means for families:
CCS is personalised to your situation. Factors such as family income, recognised activity (like work, study, volunteering, or job searching), the number of children in care, and the hourly rate charged by your provider all play a role in determining your payable gap fee at your Campus.
To receive the CCS, families need to meet some general requirements. You must be responsible for paying the child care fees, use an approved child care service, and your child must meet residency and immunisation requirements. You’ll also need to care for your child at least two nights per fortnight.
If your family circumstances change — for example, your income, your work hours, or the number of children in care — it’s important to update your details in MyGov or Centrelink. This ensures you’re always receiving the correct level of subsidy.
You can apply for CCS through your MyGov Account, which is linked to Centrelink. We recommend starting the process as soon as you are considering commencing your child in a Little Scholars Campus. The application can take four to six weeks, and if it’s not completed before your child starts, you may need to pay full fees until it’s approved.
Once your child’s enrolment is confirmed at Little Scholars, you’ll need to finalise a Complying Written Agreement (CWA) with us. This involves agreeing to your CWA online and confirming your child’s government enrolment through MyGov. CCS can’t be applied until both steps are complete.
To make things smoother, it’s worth gathering documents in advance. This might include proof of income, tax file numbers, bank details, your child’s birth certificate and immunisation records, and information about your work or study.
Now that you know what to expect, we’d suggest these are prepared in advance to streamline your claim process.
Families can now receive at least 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their family’s activity level. For more information about CCS for Indigenous families, please visit Activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
We know navigating the CCS can feel overwhelming, but you’re not on your own. From your very first tour at Little Scholars to your child’s last day of kindergarten, we’re here to help guide you and support you every step of the way.
Call our Enrolments Officer at 1300 896 139 for support with CCS or to book a tour at your nearest Little Scholars campus.
We are committed to your child’s care, education and development each and every day. We pride ourselves on the level of care we offer and the difference we are making in your child’s life for a better tomorrow.
There's a reason nine out of 10 families who visit our campuses choose to enrol. Your child's journey to discover starts here.
Shannon tells us how his son Charlie has built wonderful relationships with his educators, his friends and even his family during his time at Little Scholars.
Matty tells us how Little Scholars has helped his children gain independence and allow his wife and him to maintain a balance with their professional lives!
Our Little Scholars dads share how their children have blossomed in our care!
Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
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