How this is worked out
This estimate uses the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy rules for the 2025-26 financial year (effective 7 July 2025). Your CCS rate is calculated from your combined family adjusted taxable income:
- Earning under $85,279: 90% subsidy
- Reduces by 1% for every $5,000 above that
- Hits 0% at $535,279 and above
The subsidy applies to the lower of the centre's hourly fee or the government's hourly rate cap of $14.63 (centre-based care, 2025-26). Each option above has its own session length, which changes the hourly fee calculation.
Second child higher rate: If you have a second child aged 5 or under in approved care and your family income is under $367,563, the second child gets your standard rate plus 30 percentage points, up to a maximum of 95%.
5% withholding: Centrelink holds back 5% of your CCS each fortnight as a buffer against end-of-year reconciliation. The figures above include this withholding, so they reflect what you'll actually pay each fortnight. If your income estimate is accurate, the withheld amount is paid back to you at tax time.
The 3-Day Guarantee: From 5 January 2026, every CCS-eligible family gets at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (about 3 days per week), regardless of work or study activity. Families where each parent does 48+ hours of recognised activity per fortnight can access up to 100 hours per fortnight.