Childcare in Australia: Compare Services, Eligibility and the Real Bill

Compare the care arrangement first

Centre-based day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten and outside school hours care serve different schedules and ages. Ask whether the particular service and sessions are approved for CCS; a familiar service label does not answer that question. Preschool funding and fee arrangements can also differ by state and program.

Build a shortlist around the days, opening hours, location and accessibility you need. Ask about vacancies for those exact days, orientation, educator continuity, inclusion support, meals, sleep arrangements and communication. A place across town is not a workable option if collection time conflicts with your shift.

Use StartingBlocks to look up services and quality information. Ask the service about any rating or assessment detail you do not understand. A rating does not replace a visit or a discussion about your child’s needs.

Check CCS eligibility separately from a place

CCS generally requires approved care, responsibility for fees, an eligible child and residence/immunisation requirements. There is no NARWP for CCS itself, but not all temporary visa arrangements qualify. Check whether you or your partner meet the residence rules and the complete CCS eligibility requirements.

A provider offering a place does not mean Services Australia has approved your subsidy. Keep the claim, enrolment confirmation and provider booking as separate tasks. Ask what full fees you would owe if the subsidy is delayed or not approved, and get that answer in writing before relying on a reduced amount.

The 72-hour guarantee and 100-hour scenarios

From 5 January 2026, eligible families can receive at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight under the 3 Day Guarantee. This is not a guarantee of a childcare vacancy or 72 free hours. Fees, caps, the subsidy percentage and other conditions still affect the bill.

Some participation or family circumstances establish 100 hours. For partnered families using the participation route, the lower recognised participation is relevant; do not add both parents’ hours. Check the official hours rules and your assessment. A billed 12-hour session uses more subsidised hours than an eight-hour attendance, even if you collect early.

Compare billed hours, fee caps and withholding

The current standard rate is up to 90%, with an income taper; higher-child and Additional CCS rules require separate checking. The hourly cap varies by care type and school-age category. The percentage applies to the lower eligible hourly amount, not automatically the entire provider charge. CCS is also usually subject to 5% withholding before balancing.

For current figures see income and withholding and care type and hourly caps. Use our one-child standard-rate scenario calculator with the actual billed session length.

Worked comparison: an eligible standard-rate 90% scenario with five 12-hour sessions a week at $120 books 120 hours and costs $1,200 per fortnight. With a 72-hour limit and 5% withholding, the estimated provider bill is $584.40, not $120. With 100 subsidised hours and otherwise identical inputs, it is $345. Neither example predicts an individual assessment.

Questions for a service visit

• Who is responsible for my child’s group, and how do you communicate educator changes?
• How do you support language, disability, dietary, medical or cultural needs?
• What are the emergency, authorised-collection and medication procedures?
• What does the quality rating cover, and what improvement work is underway?
• How are fees, absences, public holidays, deposits, notice periods and late collection charged?

Educator-to-child ratios vary by age, setting and jurisdiction. Do not apply one centre-based ratio nationally or treat a minimum ratio as the whole quality picture. Family day care has separate rules, including circumstances in which the educator’s own children count. Check ACECQA’s ratio table for the service type and location.

Compare written offers before booking

Put each offer in the same format: service, days, billed session hours, full fee, likely subsidised hours, eligibility status, estimated cash bill and extra charges. Record which entries are confirmed and which are assumptions. A shorter session or different days can change the result even when the daily price looks similar.

Ask whether a waitlist or enrolment payment is refundable, transferable or credited to fees, and obtain the terms. There is no universal refund promise. Check the cancellation notice you must give before accepting multiple offers.

Once booked, confirm the enrolment and check the first statement against the actual attendance and your CCS assessment. Report relevant income or family changes through the official process. Keep full-fee contingency money where possible until the subsidy appears correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Does 72 hours mean three free days every week?

No. It is a minimum subsidised-hours entitlement per fortnight for eligible families from 5 January 2026. Fees, caps, the applicable percentage and other conditions still affect the cost.

Do new migrants wait one year for CCS?

CCS itself has no Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period. Residence and all other eligibility requirements still need to be met.

Does 90% CCS mean I pay 10% of every bill?

Not necessarily. Hourly caps, unsubsidised booked hours, withholding and extra charges can increase the amount you pay.

Are educator ratios identical across Australia?

No. Check the age group, care setting and jurisdiction in ACECQA’s current ratio guidance, including separate family day care rules.

Source review: 30 September 2026. General planning information. Confirm current rules and your individual circumstances with the linked official service before acting.