Guaranteed 3 days of subsidised care in 2026 — no activity test!

Great news! From January 2026, the Federal Government’s new 3-Day Guarantee ensures that all children eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will receive up to 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (about 3 days per week) without the activity test.

This means families can access subsidised Early Education and Care and Fun Club (Outside of School Hours care and Vacation Care), regardless of employment, study, or training status.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families will receive 100 hours per fortnight of subsidised care.

• Subsidy applies to all services your child attends, meaning you can attend more than one Big Fat Smile service.
• The activity test will be abolished for the first 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Hours over and above the 72 hours per fortnight are subject to your family’s activity test, meaning you will still need to meet eligibility requirements.
• Your usual gap fees still apply as this covers the difference between what CCS pays and our fees.
• CCS hours are based on open/close times of the service they attend; 10 hours, 11, hours or 12 hours. This will be consumed into the CCS hours (not the hours your child actually attends). Please see our FAQs below to see the operating hours at your child’s service.
• This makes extra days more affordable, giving children more opportunities to play, explore, and build confidence.
• This provides certainty and flexibility for families, especially those working casually, studying, training, or seeking work, giving you more certainty and flexibility.

Booking your place:

• Families still need to secure a spot with your preferred Big Fat Smile service for 2026.
• If your usual service is full, you’re welcome to check availability at another nearby Big Fat Smile centre as the 72 hours of subsidised care applies across all our locations.

Attached to this email is some additional information, or you can read more about the offer on the Department of Education’s website. Our Client Engagement team are also available to speak to these changes.

Frequently Asked Questions – 3-Day Guarantee

What is the “3 Day Guarantee”?

A Federal Government initiative ensuring all children eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) have access to at least 3 days (72 hours per fortnight and 100 hours for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children) of subsidised care, without the activity test. Read more details here.

Do I still need to book a place?

Yes. Families must secure a spot at their preferred Big Fat Smile (BFS) service. Check availability as soon as possible for 2026. The guarantee is just for subsidised hours, it does not guarantee that your child can get a place at a particular Early Education and Care or Fun Club service (OOSH). You’ll still need to find and secure a spot yourself.

What do I have to do?

You don’t have to do anything if you already receive CCS.

Ensure you update your activity test regularly if your child attends more than three days per week.

Are there extra costs?

Families are responsible for the service gap fees, which vary by centre and number of hours attended.

How do I work out how many hours my child attends?

Below is a table listing our services and the hours of care each service is opened for.

If your child attends a service that is 11 hours, this will be consumed in the CCS 72 hours. For example, if they attend the service three days per week, that is the equivalent of 33 hours per week or 66 hours per fortnight. Again, gap fees still apply however they are covered by CCS for their weekly attendance.

Can my child attend more than one service?

Yes, subsidised hours apply across all services attended, but total CCS hours cannot exceed 72 hours per fortnight or 100 hours for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

What if my usual BFS service is full?

You’re welcome to check other nearby BFS locations, where subsidised hours also apply. A list of services is available on our website here. You can also view results on a map.

Does the activity test still apply?

Not for the first 72 hours of care per fortnight (estimated three days per week), so if your child attends four or five days per week, your CCS will be applied after the 72 hours are exhausted, and will be calculated on your family’s activity test.

How do CCS hours work if my child attends multiple services?

CCS hours are based on service operating hours at each service. Below is a table of service operating hours.

Example: If your child attends:

Big Fat Smile service 3 days/week and the centre is open 10 hours/day (30 hours per week), and another service 2 days at a centre open 12 hours/day (24 hours per week),

The total attendance is 54 hours per week (108 hours per fortnight).

The first 72 hours per fortnight are fully subsidised under the 3-Day Guarantee with no activity test required.

Any hours beyond 72 (in this example, 36 extra hours) are calculated based on your family’s activity test. If the extra 36 hours is not covered in the family’s activity test, it will resort to full fees.

Gap fees still apply in addition to the subsidy.

Who can get more than 72 hours?

You could get the full 100 hours per fortnight if:

1. You care for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child
2. You have an exemption or exceptional circumstances
3. You already receive Additional Child Care Subsidy (e.g., for child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship, or grandparent payments)
4. You spend more than 48 hours per fortnight in “recognised participation” (for example, work, study, volunteering).

My child attends Fun Club (OOSH), do I get CCS?

Yes! Child Care Subsidy (CCS) applies to all BFS programs, including Early Learning (Long daycare), Fun Club (OOSH) and Vacation Care.

Your subsidised hours will count toward the 72 hours per fortnight under the 3-Day Guarantee.

Gap fees still apply, just like for regular care.

If your child attends multiple services, CCS hours are calculated across all services (see the opening hours table below). Should the total exceed 72 hours per fortnight (100 hours for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children), full fees will be applied or the family’s activity test will determine these costs.

Extra tips:

• If you have more than one child receiving CCS, the second (and subsequent) child gets a higher percentage of subsidy. When a child turns 6, the family’s higher CCS rate is automatically reassessed.
• If you have at least two other children aged 5 or under still in care, your CCS may remain at the standard rate for the eldest child, while younger siblings continue to receive the higher subsidy. However, if only one eligible child aged 5 or under remains, the family will no longer receive the higher subsidy.
• The higher CCS rate is available for eligible families with more than one child aged 5 or under.
• The higher rate applies to the second, third, and any subsequent children who are aged 5 or under.
• To be eligible for CCS over and above the 72 hours, your combined family income needs to be under the activity test threshold of $535,279.  For more information on CCS, please visit the Services Australia website.