the childcare subsidy
Flexible schedules to increase your subsidy
To support you cover the costs of childcare, we offer flexible options so families can choose the hours that best suit their needs. With flexible options, you can increase your access to subsidised hours, and you are not restricted to start and finish times.
Choose a 9-hr, 10-hr or full day option and make the most of the Child Care Subsidy.
9 hr day | 10 hr day | Full day | |
|---|---|---|---|
Time Frame | Select any 9-hr period | Select any 10-hr period | Full operating hours |
Late Fees & Charges | For late pick-ups | For late pick-ups | For late pick-ups |
Grace Period | 30 minutes overall | 1 hour overall | Not applicable |
Eligibility
Am I eligible for the Subsidy?
The Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) scheme offers eligible families support with the cost of childcare.
To be eligible for the childcare subsidy, parents must:
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care for a child who meets immunisation requirements, is 13 or younger for at least 2 nights per fortnight or have 14% share of care
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be responsible for paying childcare fees at an approved childcare service
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meet residency and immunisation requirements
Subsidy entitlements
How much subsidy can I receive?
The amount of subsidy you may be eligible for will depend on your individual circumstances and is largely based on:
Family income
No. of children in care
1
2
3
4
Activity Level
Care Type
Family Income
The Child Care Subsidy percentage you’re entitled to depends on your family’s income. The Government works out your CCS percentage using your family income estimate. Your CCS percentage is the amount of subsidy you're entitled to.
Activity Level
'Activity' refers to paid and unpaid activities your family is involved in. It's a measure of your contribution to society and the economy so the higher your activity levels, the more subsidy you're entitled to. The activity level is calculated from the parent with the lowest number of hours of activity per fortnight.
Number of children in care
From 10 July 2023, the rates for each child are worked out using two separate income tests.
The 'standard rate child' will get the standard CCS rates. The ‘higher rate child’ is the second and any younger children aged 5 or under. The higher rate for second and younger children is calculated using the for second and younger children.
The higher subsidy for second and younger children will end when a family earns $362,408 or more.
Type of Care
The amount of CCS a family can get depends on the type of care they use.
A family’s CCS percentage will apply to the lowest of either:
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the child care hourly rate cap
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the hourly fee you charge at your service
The Australian Government does not set child care fees or require services to charge on an hourly basis. The child care hourly rate caps are a guide for services and families about what a ‘high fee’ might be.
For more information, visit Services Australia
Fee Relief for Pre-school in Long Day Care
Under the Start Strong Long Day Care Program, the NSW Government provides financial support for families with children in preschool. It is a fantastic initiative to increase attendance of pre-school aged children in early learning as their school readiness program is accelerated. It is also crucial in ensuring less advantaged children receive the same the same opportunities when getting ready for kindergarten.
If your child turns 4 years on or before 31 July, you will eligible to receive up to $2,110 per child in fee relief.
The fee relief will be passed on to families as a weekly reduction to your gap fee (after the Child Care Subsidy has been applied). The fee relief is in addition to and will not impact on your Child Care Subsidy payments provided by the Australian Government. This fee relief is not means tested.
Nothing. Payments will be automatically calculated. If you need more information, please visit the Government website.
How does it work?
What do I need to do?
Need more information?
Contact us - we can help you better understand your CCS entitlement, visit the Government website or contact your Centrelink case manager.
What's included in the fees?
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Professional care with qualified educators
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Educational resources, including toys and learning materials
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Nappies
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Meals & Snacks
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Incursions
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Daily reports through OWNA
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School Orientation Program
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Graduation Program & Ceremony