Understanding your childcare fees helps you plan with confidence. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian Government support payment that helps eligible families reduce the cost of approved childcare.
All Village Early Learning centres are CCS-approved. For eligible families, CCS is applied directly to your childcare fees, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
The Child Care Subsidy helps eligible families cover a percentage of their approved childcare fees.
Instead of paying the full fee upfront and claiming reimbursement, CCS is paid directly to Village Early Learning and deducted from your account. Families then pay the remaining gap fee.
Your childcare statement will show:
Families can apply for CCS through their myGov account linked to Centrelink before their child starts care.
To complete your application, you will need:
Once your CCS application has been approved, you’ll sign a Complying Written Arrangement (CWA) with us through Kidsoft, then confirm your child’s enrolment in your Centrelink account via myGov before CCS can be applied.
Our team can assist you throughout the process and help you understand how CCS applies to your enrolment.
Families must meet three key requirements to receive CCS:
Your CCS percentage is based on your combined family income. Families with lower incomes generally receive a higher subsidy rate, while families above the CCS income limit may not receive CCS.
From 5 January 2026, the previous activity test has been replaced by the Australian Government’s 3 Day Guarantee.
Eligible families can receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (equivalent to 3 days per week) per child, regardless of their level of activity.
Families may access up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight if they:
Families must meet Australian residency requirements, and children must meet immunisation requirements under the National Immunisation Program or have an approved exemption.
Your CCS rate depends on your family’s circumstances, including:
Eligible families may receive up to 90% of their childcare fees covered. Some eligible families may receive up to 95% CCS for their second and younger children aged 5 or under.
CCS is also subject to an hourly rate cap, which means the subsidy only applies up to the Government’s approved hourly fee limit for your type of care. If your childcare fee is higher than the applicable hourly cap, you may need to pay the difference.
Services Australia may also withhold 5% of your CCS entitlement throughout the financial year to help reduce the risk of overpayment. For the most current CCS rates, hourly caps and an estimate of your potential subsidy, visit the Services Australia CCS estimator.
Yes. Eligible families may access CCS for approved Village Voyagers O.S.H.C and participating Vacation Care programs.
The amount of support available depends on your eligibility, the type of care used and your approved CCS entitlement.
Our team is here to help families understand how CCS applies to their childcare arrangements, fees and enrolment.
