Childcare Subsidy Guides
Plain-language guides to help Australian families understand the Child Care Subsidy, compare childcare costs, and make confident decisions about returning to work.
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Guides
How the Child Care Subsidy Works
A complete plain-language explainer — income test, hourly rate caps, activity test, 5% withholding, and how to apply. Includes worked examples.
CCS Income Test Explained
How the income thresholds and tapering formula work. Worked examples at key income levels plus common income sources people forget to include.
The 3-Day Guarantee Explained
What changed on 5 January 2026, who benefits, and what the 72-hours-per-fortnight rule means for your family in practice.
CCS for Multiple Children
How the higher rate works for second and subsequent children aged 5 or under — and how much your family can save.
Is It Worth Going Back to Work?
The real financial calculation: income versus tax, reduced CCS, extra childcare days, and work costs. Three detailed worked examples.
Childcare Costs by State
Average daily fees by state and territory for centre-based day care, family day care, and OSHC — plus why costs vary by location.
Government vs Private Childcare
What the ACCC found: not-for-profit centres cost ~8% less. How to compare quality ratings (NQS) and whether fee levels affect CCS.
Coming Soon
Activity Test Explained
How the CCS activity test determines how many subsidised hours you can access — and what counts as recognised activity.
Types of Childcare Compared
Centre-based day care vs family day care vs OSHC vs in-home care — costs, pros and cons, and how CCS differs for each.