Fees & Subsidies
Making childcare affordable for Queensland families
Fees
What your daily Kids ELC fee covers
Fresh, wholesome meals
Your child will enjoy healthy, nutritious meals every day. This includes morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, with menus tailored to meet individual dietary needs.Nappies and wipes
All of our centres provide nappies and wipes for your convenience.Kids ELC curriculum
Combining inspirations from a range of early childhood educational frameworks, our interest-led and active learning program is designed to nurture creativity, confidence, and independence in every child.Quality facilities
Each of our centres offers a unique range of facilities, including a dedicated atelier for artistic expression, water play spaces, adventure playgrounds, quiet retreats, and nature-inspired playscapes where children can build a deeper connection with nature, sustainability and their surroundings.Supportive, qualified educators
Our educators create nurturing, flexible environments where every child’s voice is heard, their interests are valued, and their potential is celebrated.Dedicated studio rooms
Each of our centres offers a number of different age-specific studio rooms that have been thoughtfully designed to cater to children from six weeks to five years of age.
Queensland Government-approved Free Kindy program
Subsidies
Other subsidies and financial assistance
Beyond the CCS and Free Kindy program, there are several other forms of government support that you might be able to access. Each of these subsidies has its own eligibility requirements, so be sure to refer to the Services Australia website for more information.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)
If you’re eligible for the CCS, you might be able to take advantage of the ACCS if you’re:
- An eligible grandparent getting an income support payment,
- Transitioning from certain income support payments to work,
- Experiencing temporary financial hardship, or
- Caring for a child who is vulnerable or at risk of harm, abuse, or neglect.
Fee Relief for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are entitled to a minimum of 36 hours of CCS each fortnight, regardless of the amount of recognised activity you do as their parent or guardian. Although you’ll still have to pay out-of-pocket childcare costs, this program is in place to improve services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
The FTB is a two-part payment designed to help with the costs of raising children. While the FTB Part A is paid per child, depending on your circumstances, the FTB Part B is only available to single parents, grandparent carers, and couples with one main income.
Parenting Payment
The Parenting Payment is the main income support payment while you’re a young child’s primary carer. Paid fortnightly, the amount you can get depends on you and your partner’s circumstances.
How Kids ELC helps you navigate subsidies
We know just how overwhelming it can be trying to navigate the CCS and other government assistance programs, all while enrolling your children in childcare. Rest assured, the Kids ELC team are on hand to help you understand the various payments and guide you through any subsidy applications. Our dedicated admin team are happy to provide assistance at every step of the way to support you through the enrolment and subsidy application process.
Am I eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
To get Child Care Subsidy (CCS), you must:
- Care for a child 13 or younger who’s not attending secondary school, unless an exemption applies,
- Use an approved child care service, like Kids ELC,
- Be responsible for paying the child care fees, and
- Meet residence and immunisation requirements.
How do I apply for the Child Care Subsidy?
To apply for the CCS, you’ll need to log into your myGov account and link it to Centrelink. From here, you’ll be able to start a new claim. As part of the claims process, you’ll have to prove your identity, answer questions about your family’s circumstances, provide supporting documents, and confirm your child’s enrolment details with your childcare provider.
How much CCS can I claim?
The amount of CCS you can claim depends on your family’s circumstances. Centrelink will work out how much you’re entitled to based on:
- Your family’s income,
- The hourly rate cap, based on the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age,
- The hours of activity you and your partner do, and
- The number of children in your care.
The maximum standard CCS percentage you can claim is 90%, meaning you’ll only need to cover 10% of your child’s childcare fees. However, families with more than one CCS-eligible child aged five or younger may be eligible for a higher subsidy for one or more of their children. But remember, eligibility requirements still apply.
Do subsidies apply to all Kids ELC centres?
Yes. All Kids Early Learning Centres are classified as government-approved childcare, meaning you can claim the CCS and other subsidies if eligible. We also offer a Queensland Government-approved and funded Kindergarten program for eligible children, so your child can enjoy 15 hours of Free Kindy each week across 40 weeks for the year.
What happens if my income changes during the year?
Centrelink uses your family income estimate to work out how much assistance you’re entitled to. So, if your income changes during the year, you’ll need to notify Centrelink to update your family income estimate. For example, if you end up receiving more CCS than what you’re entitled to, you’ll need to pay back the difference. On the flip side, if your CCS is underpaid, Centrelink will pay the outstanding amount directly to you when your payments are adjusted at the end of the financial year.