Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The Child Care Subsidy is a government payment designed to help families reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. By making quality care more affordable, CCS supports more children to access the benefits of early education.
The subsidy is assessed based on family income and is paid directly to approved childcare services, with the savings passed on to families through reduced fees. As an approved provider, Little Echidna Early Learning Centre enables eligible families to access CCS support.
There is no longer an annual limit on CCS, giving families greater freedom in how they balance work, care, and learning. Families with more than one child aged five and under attending care may receive an increased subsidy for their second and younger children, up to a maximum of 95%. Any additional subsidy is automatically applied and reflected in the CCS rate provided to our centre.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy is based on several key criteria set by the Australian Government:
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Child’s age - Your child must be under 13 years of age and not enrolled in secondary school, unless an approved exemption applies (such as a medical condition or disability).
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Immunisation status - Children must meet national immunisation requirements or have an approved exemption in place.
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Residency requirements - The parent or guardian applying for CCS must live in Australia and satisfy residency conditions outlined in legislation.
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Approved childcare service - Care must be provided by an approved childcare provider operating in Australia, and eligibility may vary depending on the type of service. That's us!
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Family income -The level of subsidy you receive is assessed using your combined taxable family income for the financial year.
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Activity test - The number of subsidised hours is based on the activity level of the parent or guardian with the lowest recognised activity, such as work, study, or volunteering.
How Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is calculated
The amount of Child Care Subsidy your family can receive depends on three main factors:
Family income - The subsidy is assessed based on the combined taxable income of you and your partner for the financial year.
Hours of recognised activity - The parent or guardian with the fewest hours of eligible activity determines how many subsidised childcare hours your family can access. Recognised activity includes paid work, self-employment, studying, training, volunteering, or actively seeking work. Special arrangements apply for recipients of certain government payments, such as JobSeeker or Carer Allowance.
Hourly rate cap - The maximum hourly subsidy depends on the type of approved childcare service and the age of your child.
Estimating your CCS percentage
Families earning up to $85,279 per year may receive up to 90% of their childcare costs.For incomes between $85,279 and $535,279, the subsidy gradually decreases.Families earning $535,279 or more are not eligible for CCS.This system ensures families receive support based on their income, care needs, and activity levels, helping make quality early learning more affordable for children at Little Echidna.
More information can be found on the Centrelink website.
Applying for CCS
Applying for CCS is simple and can be done through your MyGov account. Here’s a step-by-step overview: