What happened to the Child Care Subsidy activity test?
The activity test was replaced by the 3 Day Guarantee on 5 January 2026. Families no longer need to pass an activity test to receive a base level of subsidised care. Every CCS eligible family can now get at least 72 hours of subsidised care each fortnight for each child.
Services Australia, replacing the Child Care Subsidy activity test
Department of Education, 3 Day Guarantee
What the activity test used to do
Under the old rules, your subsidised hours were tied to how much recognised activity you and your partner did each fortnight. Activities counted included paid work, study, training, volunteering and looking for work. More activity meant more subsidised hours, up to 100 per fortnight, and low activity could mean very few hours or none.
What replaced it
From 5 January 2026 the 3 Day Guarantee sets a minimum. All CCS eligible families receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, which is about three days a week, without needing to meet an activity test for those hours.
Does activity still matter?
Yes, if you want more than the guaranteed hours. Reporting more than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight can lift your entitlement to up to 100 hours per fortnight. So activity now decides whether you go above the 72 hour floor, rather than whether you get help at all.
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