Australia's 3-Day Childcare Guarantee: What Every Family Needs to Know

What is the Three-Day Guarantee?

From 5 January 2026, every family eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is entitled to at least 72 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight — regardless of how many hours they work, study, or participate in other activities.

Previously, CCS entitlement was tied to an activity test: the more hours you worked or studied each fortnight, the more subsidised childcare hours you could claim. Families with low or no participation could be restricted to as few as 24 hours per fortnight.

The Three-Day Guarantee removes the activity test as a barrier to the first 72 hours, making childcare more accessible for families in a wide range of circumstances — including parents who care for younger children at home, people between jobs, or those who volunteer or care for family members.

Who is eligible?

To receive the Three-Day Guarantee, you need to meet the general CCS eligibility requirements:

• Your child is 13 years old or younger.
• Your child is enrolled in an approved childcare service.
• You are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa.
• You meet the immunisation requirements for your child.
• You and your partner (if applicable) meet income and residency requirements.

The activity test has not been removed entirely — it still determines whether you can access more than 72 hours per fortnight. Families who work, study, or volunteer 48+ hours per fortnight can still access up to 100 hours of subsidised care.

How much subsidy will I receive?

The CCS is income-based. As a guide:

• Families earning approximately $85,000 or less per year receive up to 90% subsidy on approved fees.
• The subsidy rate gradually decreases as income rises.
• Families earning above approximately $530,000 are not eligible for CCS.

The subsidy is applied automatically to your childcare provider’s invoices — you pay the gap fee (the amount above the subsidy).

How to access the subsidy

1. Create or log in to myGov and link your Centrelink account.
2. Enrol your child at an approved childcare service (the service must be CCS-approved).
3. Confirm your CCS claim in myGov — the system will assess your eligibility and calculate your subsidy rate.
4. The childcare provider claims the subsidy directly from Services Australia; you pay only the gap.

If you’re already receiving CCS, the Three-Day Guarantee applies automatically from January 2026 — you do not need to reapply.

What counts towards the activity test?

If you want more than 72 hours per fortnight, you (and your partner, if you have one) need to meet the activity test. Recognised activities include:

• Paid work (including self-employment).
• Study or training.
• Volunteering and community work.
• Actively looking for work.
• Caring for someone with a disability or illness.

Hours of recognised activity per fortnight determine your CCS hours entitlement above the 72-hour guaranteed floor.

What if my child doesn’t need 3 days?

The 72-hour guarantee is a maximum entitlement, not a minimum attendance requirement. If your child only attends one day per week, your subsidy applies to those hours — you are not required to use all 72 hours.

Interaction with paid parental leave

If you are on Parental Leave Pay (PPL) and your child attends childcare, the Three-Day Guarantee still applies. However, the activity test for hours above 72 may be affected by your PPL status — check with Services Australia if you are transitioning from PPL back to work.

For information about the expanded 26-week PPL entitlement (from 1 July 2026), see the paid parental leave article in this section.