Established in 1850 YMCA South Australia is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected community organisations. As a community-based organisation, we work collaboratively with government, non-profit groups and partners to provide a range of programs and services to build healthier, happier, connected communities.
Key Child Care Subsidy Changes for 2026
| What is changing? | When? | What this means for our family? |
| 3 Day Guarantee Starts | From 5 January 2026 | If you are CCS-eligible, your child will get at least 72 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight. That is usually about 3 days a week in a long day care setting or Vacation Care period. |
| Less focus on the activity test for the first block of hours | From 5 January 2026 | Even if you have low, irregular or no recognised activity (work, study, training), your child can still receive those 72 subsidised hours if you are eligible for CCS. |
| More support for First Nations children | From 5 January 2026 | Families caring for a First Nations child can receive 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for that child. |
What is the Child Care Subsidy?
If you are already using childcare or early learning, you probably know the basics. For anyone who is new to it:
- The Child Care Subsidy is a national payment that helps families with the cost of approved early childhood education and care, including long day care, family day care, occasional care and outside school hours care.
- The Australian Government pays CCS straight to your service, and you pay the gap fee (the difference).
- How much you get depends on:
- your family income
- your child’s age
- the type of service you use
- your hours of recognised participation (e.g. study, work or volunteering
From January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee changes the minimum hours of subsidised care, so more children can attend early learning more regularly.
What does the 3 Day Guarantee actually do?
The 3 Day Guarantee replaces the old CCS activity test for the first block of hours and sets a clear minimum for everyone who is CCS-eligible.
Minimum Hours From 5 January 2026
| Family situation | Minimum CCS hours per child, per fortnight | What this can look like for you |
| Any CCS-eligible family | 72 hours | Around three 10–12 hour days per fortnight in a long day care service, depending on session length (many services count 10–12 hour days). |
| Caring for a First Nations child | 100 hours | Up to around five 10-hour days per fortnight of subsidised early learning. |
| Families with high participation (for example full-time work or study) | Up to 100 hours | Families with high participation (for example, full-time work or study) |
For many families who currently receive 0, 24 or 36 hours of subsidised care because of the activity test, this is a significant increase.
Common Questions Families May Have
You may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) if:
- You care for a child who is under 13 and not attending secondary school
- Your child is enrolled with an approved child care service
- You are responsible for paying the fees
- You meet certain residency and immunisation requirements
We recommend visiting Services Australia and logging into your myGov account to review if you can start a claim.
Generally, no. If you already receive CCS and your details are current, Services Australia will apply the new hours automatically from 5 January 2026.
You should still:
- Log in to myGov and check your family income estimate
- Update any changes to work, study or family situation
The Child Care Subsidy changes affect your hours, not your subsidy percentage. Your gap fee will still depend on:
- Your CCS percentage
- Your service’s daily fee and session structure
- How many hours or days you actually use
However, if you used to receive fewer hours (for example, 24 or 36 hours each fortnight), you may now be able to spread your subsidy over more days, which can make regular attendance more affordable.
What to Expect
Quality Educators
We seek high quality, experienced and passionate Educators which actively contribute to the quality of ELC programming and an enjoyable experience for students. Lead by the Director, Educators provide an environment that will challenge, stimulate and support each child on an individual level.
Convenient Bookings
Bookings can be completed online, on the App or over the phone. In addition to utilising the latest technology to manage bookings, our friendly ELC Support Team is available over the phone Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.
Child Enjoyment
YMCA ELC has the right mix of physical activity, intellectual stimulation and rest keeping children wanting to come back.
Fresh Healthy Homecooked Food
We provide healthy and nutritious homecooked meals with food sourced from markets and other local food co-ops if available within the community.
Contact Us
Contact the Adelaide based Support Team for all general enquiries, enrolments and bookings (available 9am-5pm Monday through Friday).
08 8200 2556 | elc@ymcasa.org.au
