Coming January 2026
What Is the 3-Day Guarantee?
From January 2026, the Australian Government will introduce the 3-Day Guarantee, giving families access to 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per fortnight, that’s around three days per week, for every child in care.
This new initiative removes the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test, which previously required families to meet work, study, or volunteering requirements. With the 3-Day Guarantee, families will be able to access subsidised care without having to meet activity requirements for the first 72 hours.
From 2026, All Australian Families to Get 3 Days of Subsidised Childcare
From January 2026, the Australian Government will introduce the 3-Day Guarantee, giving families access to 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per fortnight, that’s around three days per week, for every child in care.
This new initiative removes the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test, which previously required families to meet work, study, or volunteering requirements. With the 3-Day Guarantee, families will be able to access subsidised care without having to meet activity requirements for the first 72 hours.
What This Means for Families
The 3-Day Guarantee will make early learning more accessible, inclusive, and affordable; especially for those who were previously restricted by activity-based rules.
Here’s what you need to know:
- All CCS-eligible families earning under $533,280/year will automatically receive 72 hours of subsidised care per child, per fortnight
- First Nations families will continue to receive up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight
- Families who already receive more than 72 hours through activity eligibility will keep their current entitlements
- No need to provide evidence of work, study, or volunteering to access the first 72 hours
This reform supports greater equity in early education, ensuring that more children can benefit from high-quality care during the most critical years of development.
Key Benefits
- 72 subsidised hours of care per child, per fortnight
- Activity test no longer required for these hours
- Up to 100 hours for eligible families (e.g. First Nations or high activity)
- Families may save up to $11,400 per year
- Over 100,000 children expected to benefit — including 40,000 newly accessing care
- Improved school readiness, learning outcomes, and family wellbeing
Estimated Savings
According to the Department of Education, families will experience significant cost-of-living relief under the new system. Here’s what the savings could look like for a family using 3 days of care per week (36 hours), 50 weeks per year:
Annual Household Income
Weekly Savings
Annual Savings
$90,000
$230
$11,400
$120,000
$220
$11,400
$140,000
$200
$10,110
Estimates based on average 2025–26 Centre-Based Day Care fees.
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