The 3 Day Guarantee | Helping Your Family with Childcare Costs
Starting 5 January 2026, the Australian Government introduced the 3 Day Guarantee, a major update to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) that makes quality early learning more accessible and affordable for families like yours.
The 3 Day Guarantee ensures that all families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy can access at least three days of subsidised childcare per week, equivalent to 72 hours of subsidised care over a fortnight, regardless of parents’ work, study or volunteering hours.
Unlike previous rules, you no longer need to meet an activity test (such as working or studying a minimum number of hours) to unlock these base subsidised care hours — making childcare support clearer and more dependable.
What This Means For Your Family
The 3 Day Guarantee is designed to:
Reduce childcare cost pressures by giving eligible families a clear baseline of subsidised hours each fortnight.
Improve access to quality early learning at trusted centres like Burwood House.
Support children’s development and early education outcomes by enabling more consistent participation in childcare.
Please note: while the subsidy reduces your out-of-pocket costs, families are still responsible for the gap fee (the difference between the total fee charged by the centre and the subsidy amount).
How Does It Work?
The subsidy provides a guaranteed minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care every two weeks, equivalent to three full days of care per week.
You don’t have to book exactly three days each week to qualify — as long as your total subsidised hours reach 72 across a fortnight, your family benefits from the guarantee.
Families may still receive additional subsidy hours (up to 100) if they meet activity requirements (like work or study) or qualify for exemptions.
Who Can Benefit?
The 3 Day Guarantee applies to all families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
Most families earning under the CCS income threshold can access these minimum subsidised hours, giving you greater peace of mind about childcare costs.
In some cases, such as for children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, eligible families may access up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.