The 3 Day Guarantee for Child Care Subsidy, explained
The 3 Day Guarantee started on 5 January 2026 and replaced the Child Care Subsidy activity test. Under it, every CCS eligible family can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care each fortnight, which works out to three days a week for each child. You no longer need to pass an activity test to reach this minimum.
Services Australia, replacing the Child Care Subsidy activity test
Department of Education, 3 Day Guarantee
What changed on 5 January 2026
Before this date, the amount of subsidised care depended on an activity test. Families reported hours of recognised activity such as paid work, study, training or looking for work, and their subsidised hours were set from that. Families who did little or no recognised activity often received few hours or none. From 5 January 2026 the 3 Day Guarantee replaced that test, and all CCS eligible families now get a minimum of 72 hours per fortnight for each child, regardless of activity.
How to get more than 72 hours
The guarantee is a floor, not a cap. If you and your partner report more than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight, you may qualify for up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Families of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can access 100 hours per fortnight for that child.
What still applies
The 3 Day Guarantee changes how many hours are subsidised. It does not remove the other parts of CCS. Your family income still affects your subsidy percentage, your child must meet immunisation requirements, and you still pay the gap fee between the subsidy and your provider's fee.
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