The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is Australian Government assistance that helps families with the cost of approved child care. How much your family receives depends on your combined income, recognised activity hours, and the hourly fee charged for care. The subsidy is paid directly to the centre, reducing your out-of-pocket gap fee. Use our estimator below to see a personalised guide for your family.
Three things that shape your subsidy
Services Australia calculates your Child Care Subsidy entitlement using three key factors.
Combined family income
Determines your subsidy percentage
Your family's combined taxable income sets your base subsidy rate — up to 90% for families earning up to $88,520. For incomes above this, the subsidy rate gradually steps down by 1% for every $5,000 of income until reaching 0% at $538,520. Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care may receive up to 95% on younger children.
Recognised activity hours
Sets your subsidised hours per fortnight
How many hours you and your partner work, study, volunteer, or train per fortnight determines the hours of subsidised care you receive (up to 100 hours per fortnight). Under the Australian Government's 3 Day Guarantee, every eligible family is guaranteed at least 36 hours (3 standard days) of subsidised care per fortnight, regardless of activity level.
Hourly fee and rate cap
Calculates your actual benefit
The subsidy applies to the lower of our centre's hourly fee or the Australian Government rate cap ($15.19 per hour for Centre Based Day Care for children below school age). The government pays your subsidy directly to us, and you only pay the remaining gap fee.
Child Care Subsidy estimator
A quick guide to the subsidy your family could receive. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is sent or saved.
Your estimate
Estimate only · rates current as of July 2026 (2026–27 financial year)
Enter your family income and the fee above to see an estimated Child Care Subsidy and your out-of-pocket cost.
This is a guide, not financial advice. Your actual entitlement depends on your full circumstances and is confirmed by Services Australia.
Check your real estimate with the Australian Government's own Starting Blocks CCS calculator and the Services Australia Child Care Subsidy pages.
Assumptions: rates are the 2026-27 financial-year figures (as of July 2026 (2026–27 financial year)); the subsidy applies to the lower of your fee or the hourly rate cap ($15.19/hour for a child below school age); and the fee you entered is used across your booked hours.
We're here to help with your Child Care Subsidy
Navigating child care subsidies, Centrelink requirements, and activity tests can feel complex — especially if you're enrolling for the very first time. At Small Steps, our director Samia and our team are here to guide you every step of the way so you can maximise your family's entitlements and have total clarity on your out-of-pocket costs.
- Step-by-step guidance on setting up your Child Care Subsidy claim in myGov
- Linking Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) for you and your child to Small Steps
- Explaining your activity test results, fortnightly subsidised hours, and the 3 Day Guarantee
- Transparent fee estimates showing your net out-of-pocket gap fee before you start
- Assistance exploring additional funding such as Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) or NSW preschool fee relief
How enrolment works: 4 simple steps
From your first visit to your child’s first day, here is the straightforward path to joining Small Steps.
Book a tour & visit the centre
Explore our rooms, meet our educators, and see our programs in action.
Come visit Small Steps at 126 Thorney Rd, Fairfield West NSW 2165. You'll see our indoor classrooms, natural outdoor play spaces, and daily routines. We'll discuss your preferred days, your child's routine, and provide an initial fee estimate tailored to your family.
Claim CCS through myGov
Submit your Child Care Subsidy assessment with Centrelink.
Log into your myGov account linked to Centrelink and complete the Child Care Subsidy claim online. Centrelink assesses your combined family income and activity level to determine your subsidy percentage and eligible hours. Ensure you have Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) for both parent and child.
Enrol with Small Steps
Complete your enrolment pack and provide health records.
Once you are ready to secure a place, complete our enrolment paperwork. Provide your parent and child CRNs, dates of birth, emergency contacts, and an up-to-date Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement (required under NSW legislation for child care enrolment).
Confirm in myGov & start care
Confirm the enrolment notice in your Centrelink portal.
Once we enter your child’s enrolment into the government Child Care Subsidy System (CCSS), a notification appears in your myGov task list. Review and confirm the enrolment details. Your subsidy is then paid directly to Small Steps, and you only pay the gap fee from your child’s very first day.
How subsidy payments & gap fees work
Understanding billing, the 5% withholding buffer, and additional support programs.
Direct payment to the centre
The Australian Government pays your subsidy directly to Small Steps each fortnight. You are only invoiced for the difference between the full fee and your subsidy entitlement — this is your 'gap fee' or out-of-pocket cost.
5% annual withholding buffer
Services Australia automatically withholds 5% of your subsidy payments throughout the financial year as a protective buffer against income changes. When you lodge your tax return at the end of the financial year, Services Australia balances your payments and refunds any over-withheld subsidy directly to you.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)
Families experiencing temporary financial hardship, transitioning to work, caring for a child at risk, or grandparent primary carers may be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), which covers up to 100% of fees above the hourly cap. Speak with us confidentially if this might apply to your family.
NSW preschool fee relief
Eligible children enrolled in an approved preschool program may qualify for NSW Start Strong preschool fee relief funding. We can confirm your child’s eligibility during enrolment and explain how it interacts with your CCS.
Important estimator & fee notes
The Child Care Subsidy estimator on this page provides an indicative guide based on current July 2026 (2026–27 financial year) parameters. Actual subsidy entitlements and gap fees are determined solely by Services Australia / Centrelink following assessment of your family's confirmed income, activity hours, and enrolment details. Small Steps' daily fees vary by age group and booked sessions; contact our director for our current fee schedule.