Since January, every family gets 3 days (72 hours a fortnight) of subsidised care, guaranteed, no questions asked. But depending on how many hours you and your partner are clocking up at work or study, your family might actually be up for 5 days. Here's the quick version, no jargon.
What actually changed
Up until January 2026, there was this thing called the 'activity test' that worked out how many days of subsidised care a family could get, based on how much work or study you were doing. That's been scrapped as the main system. Now every family gets the guaranteed 3 days straight up, no matter what your hours look like.
The old activity-based stuff hasn't vanished completely though, it's just moved. It only kicks in now if you want more than the guaranteed 3 days, up to 5 days a week. If 3 days is already doing the job for your family, you're all sorted and there's nothing else to do.
Read more: Child Care Subsidy Update 2026: What the 3-Day Guarantee Means for Your Family
The two numbers you need to know
- 3 days a week (72 hours a fortnight): everyone gets this, automatically.
- 5 days a week (100 hours a fortnight): possible if you (and your partner, if you've got one) each do more than 48 hours a fortnight of work, study, training or job hunting.
It's about hours, not what you earn, so it doesn't matter if it's a big pay packet or a small one, it's the hours that count.
A quick example
Macca works four days a week on the tools, and his partner Bec does three days at the shop plus a bit of study on the side. Add it up and they're both well over 48 hours a fortnight. Because Services Australia goes off whoever's done less, and Bec's still over the mark, the family's sorted for the full 5 days, not just the 3. If Bec had only been doing 20 hours a fortnight between work and study, they'd be stuck on the guaranteed 3 days, even with Macca working full-time.
Does this sound like you?
- You and your partner (if you've got one) are both clocking more than 48 hours a fortnight combined of work, study or training
- Your hours have picked up lately - new job, extra shifts, started studying
- You're a single parent working or studying more than 48 hours a fortnight
If none of that sounds like your situation, no dramas, the guaranteed 3 days is probably already the right fit, and that's a good outcome too. Doesn't hurt to double-check though, especially if things have changed lately.
Stuff people usually ask
Will this change what I'm paying? Nup - how much you're subsidised is based on your family income, not your hours, so that stays exactly the same. You'll just pay the usual gap fee for any extra days.
What if my hours bounce around a bit? One weird fortnight here or there isn't going to change anything. It's more about the pattern sticking around for a while before it's worth updating your details.
Does it work differently for each kid if I've got more than one? Nope - same deal for each child, based on the same family hours, so you shouldn't get a different answer for each one.
Why it's worth a quick check
Kids tend to settle in easier when their days at kindy follow the same pattern week to week, rather than chopping and changing. If your family's actually entitled to more days and you just haven't gotten around to checking, moving to a steadier 4 or 5 days can mean a smoother routine for your little one, plus a bit less juggling for you. And if it turns out 3 days is still the right amount, that's a good answer too, at least you'll know for sure.
Easiest next step
No need to sort this out on your own. Bring us a rough idea of your work or study hours and our team will run through whether extra days make sense for your family, and sort the enrolment side if they do. No stress, no dramas.
Find your nearest Aussie Kindies Early Learning centre
Contact our Family Support Team on 1800 244 532
Use our Child Care Subsidy calculator to estimate your out of pocket costs.