Child Care Subsidy (CCS) | Affordable Childcare at Amara Balga

Q: How often should I update my CCS details?

Anytime your income, activity levels or family circumstances change, it’s important to update your MyGov and Centrelink details to make sure your subsidy stays accurate.

Q: Can I get CCS if I’m not currently working?

Yes you may still be eligible for up to 24 hours of subsidised care per fortnight if you’re not meeting the activity test. Activities like volunteering, studying or looking for work may also count.

Q: How long does it take to receive the subsidy after applying?

Most claims are processed within a few business days. Once approved and your child’s enrolment is confirmed by the provider, the CCS will automatically be applied to your fees.

What is the Child Care Subsidy?

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government program that helps reduce the cost of approved childcare for Australian families. If you’re eligible, the subsidy is paid directly to your childcare provider, lowering your weekly out-of-pocket fees.

CCS is designed to make early learning more accessible – so more families can access quality care while balancing work, study or other commitments.

Want to get an idea of your CCS amount? Try our Child Care Subsidy Calculator, it’s free and easy to use.

How does Child Care Subsidy work?

Select an option from the list below

Who is eligible for CCS?

To be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, you must:

Care for a child aged under 13, not attending secondary school
Be using an approved childcare provider
Meet residency and immunisation requirements
Be responsible for paying the childcare fees
Meet the activity test (which looks at how many hours you and your partner are working, studying or volunteering)

Most families are eligible for at least some subsidy – and many receive a significant reduction.

How To Claim

Getting started is simple. Here’s how to apply:

Log in to your MyGov account and link it to Centrelink
Submit a CCS claim through Centrelink
Provide your income and activity details, and confirm your childcare provider
Once approved, the subsidy will be applied directly to your childcare fees

Your childcare provider will confirm your child’s enrolment, and you’ll receive your CCS from the date care begins (as long as everything is in place).

Additional Support

In some cases, families may be eligible for extra help, including:

Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) for families experiencing financial hardship or exceptional circumstances
Higher CCS entitlements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, or families referred for support
Increased hours for families who meet low-income or special eligibility criteria

You can learn more about extra support through Services Australia.

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

At Amara Early Learning Centre in Balga, our daily fee is $160 per day for the 2025/26 year. What you actually pay out-of-pocket will depend on your CCS percentage, which is based on your family’s combined income.

The Australian Government offers the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to help families with the cost of early childhood education and care. The amount of subsidy you may receive depends on:

Your family’s combined annual income
Your recognised activity hours (work, study, volunteering)
The number of children in care

From 5 January 2026, all families using approved child care are eligible for at least 72 hours (3 days) of subsidised care per fortnight, regardless of activity hours.

Use the calculator to estimate your subsidy and see how affordable quality childcare at Amara can be.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Name*

Email Address*

Phone Number

Family Details

Family Annual Income ($)*

Number of Children in Care*

Recognised Participation (Activity Test)

Primary Parent/Carer — Participation Hours per Fortnight*

Please enter a number from 0 to 336.

Work, study, volunteering, or looking for work hours.

Do you have an exemption?*

Do you have a partner?*

Partner — Participation Hours per Fortnight

Please enter a number from 0 to 336.

We use the lower of the two parents' hours.

Child Details

Child 1

Days per Week*

Hours per Day*

Please enter a number from 1 to 12.

Daily Fee ($)*

Child 2

Days per Week*

Hours per Day*

Please enter a number from 1 to 12.

Daily Fee ($)*

Child 3

Days per Week*

Hours per Day*

Please enter a number from 1 to 12.

Daily Fee ($)*

Child 4

Days per Week*

Hours per Day*

Please enter a number from 1 to 12.

Daily Fee ($)*

Complete the fields above to see your estimated subsidy.

Important: This is an estimate only. The government withholds 5% of your subsidy each fortnight as a safeguard. You will still need to pay a "gap fee" — the difference between your provider's actual fee and the CCS amount. Always verify your actual entitlements via Services Australia.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my CCS details?

Can I get CCS if I’m not currently working?

How long does it take to receive the subsidy after applying?

Looking for more help?

If you can’t find the answers you are looking for you might be able to find it by visiting our dedicated FAQs page.

Alternatively you can send us your enquiry by visiting our contact page, or using the centre information below.

enquiries@amaraelc.com.au 08 6288 8282

Start Your Enrolment

Child Care Subsidy

What is the Child Care Subsidy?

How does Child Care Subsidy work?

Who is eligible for CCS?

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Family Details

Recognised Participation (Activity Test)

Child Details

Child 1

Child 2

Child 3

Child 4

Enquire today and secure your place for 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for more help?