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What will care really cost?
The Child Care Subsidy comes off your fees before the bill reaches you. Our free calculator works out how much, using this year's government rates, so you know your real number before you book a tour.
Your number in about two minutes.
No sign-up, no email. Fill in what you know, guess what you don't, and the calculator shows your fortnightly cost after CCS. Have these handy:
An estimate only. Services Australia works out your actual subsidy and balances it at the end of each financial year.
How it works
The subsidy is paid straight to us and comes off your fees, so you only pay the gap. Here's what decides the size of that gap.
Sets your percentage. Up to $88,520 in combined family income, it's 90%. Above that it drops 1% for every $5,000, reaching zero at $538,520. A second or younger child aged 5 or under can get up to 95% when family income is under $370,727.
Sets your hours. Every eligible family gets at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight for each child. More than 48 hours of work, study or volunteering a fortnight lifts it to 100.
Sets the ceiling. Your percentage applies to your hourly fee or the government cap, whichever is lower. For long day care, children below school age, the cap is $15.19 an hour.
$130,000 a year gets 81.70% CCS
The standard rate for one child, 2026-27. A second or younger child aged 5 or under may get more. Use this income in the calculator
Rates and income thresholds are indexed each July and were last updated 6 July 2026. Services Australia confirms your entitlement.
Getting set up
Apply for CCS through your Centrelink online account in myGov. Start before your child's first day.
Come and see the campus, meet the team and ask about fees. Book a tour when you're ready.
Once your place is confirmed, you'll agree a Complying Written Arrangement with us and confirm the enrolment in your Centrelink account. That switches the subsidy on.
Income or work hours changed? Update Services Australia so your subsidy stays right and there's no bill at balancing time.
Your questions, answered
Still stuck? Our enrolments team sorts out CCS questions every day. Call 1300 896 139.
It depends on your combined family income. Families earning up to $88,520 a year get 90% of the fee covered, up to the hourly cap. Above that, the rate drops by 1% for every $5,000 you earn, reaching zero at $538,520. If you have a second or younger child aged 5 or under in care, that child can get a higher rate of up to 95% when your family income is under $370,727. The calculator above works out your exact percentage.
Since 5 January 2026, every family eligible for CCS gets at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight for each child. That's three full days a week, whatever your work, study or volunteering hours. Families with more than 48 hours of recognised activity a fortnight can get up to 100 hours.
Three things set it: your income sets your percentage, your activity sets your subsidised hours, and the government hourly rate cap sets the ceiling. The percentage is applied to whichever is lower, the fee you're charged or the cap. For long day care in 2026-27 the cap is $15.19 an hour for children below school age.
You need to be the person paying the fees, your child needs to be 13 or under and not at secondary school, and your child needs to meet immunisation requirements. You or your partner also need to meet the residency rules, and your child needs to attend an approved service. Every Little Scholars campus is approved.
Apply through your Centrelink online account in myGov, ideally before your child starts. Once your place is confirmed, you'll agree a Complying Written Arrangement with us and confirm the enrolment in your Centrelink account. Stuck? Our enrolments team will walk you through it on 1300 896 139.
Families caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child can get 100 hours of subsidised care a fortnight for that child, regardless of activity.
Yes. If your child is in their kindy year and booked for at least 15 hours a week, the calculator adds Queensland's Free Kindy funding and shows your cost in kindy weeks and outside them.
The 3 Day Guarantee
Since 5 January 2026, every family eligible for CCS gets at least three days of subsidised care a week for each child. It doesn't matter how many hours you work, study or volunteer.
If you were only getting 24 or 36 hours a fortnight under the old activity test, your subsidised hours have gone up.
Which one sounds like you?
In the year before school, Queensland's Free Kindy covers 15 hours a week across 40 weeks for eligible children booked at least 15 hours a week. The calculator works it in for you.
What the 2026 changes mean for your family
18 campuses across South East Queensland. Meet the educators, see the studios and find out what the chef's cooking.
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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