For many busy, working families, the cost of childcare can take up a significant portion of the household budget. That said, some families can take advantage of government assistance through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The CCS is paid directly to the childcare provider, reducing out-of-pocket fees for approved childcare services across Australia, including Queensland.
While you’ll need to pass several eligibility requirements before you can receive the CCS, the amount of assistance you can receive depends on your individual circumstances, including an activity test.
Whether you’re in the process of enrolling your child at childcare or you’re exploring the CCS, we’re here to help you understand what counts as an approved activity, how Child Care Subsidy hours are calculated, and how to make sure your family gets the most support. We’ll also touch on the upcoming changes to the activity test, set to roll out in early 2026.
What is the CCS activity test?
The government uses the CCS activity test to determine how many hours of subsidised childcare each family can receive. Under the CCS, the number of subsidised care hours you receive each fortnight is based on how many hours of recognised activities you complete.
If you have a partner, the government will consider both of your activity levels before using the lower of the two to work out your hours of subsidised child care. If you do more than one recognised activity, the total hours you do across both activities will count towards your overall activity level.
Remember to keep in mind that the amount of assistance you’re eligible for also depends on your family’s combined income, the number and age of children in your care, and the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved child care you use. If you’re interested in knowing how much CCS you could receive, you can use our CCS calculator for a rough estimate.
What counts as recognised activity?
There are a number of different types of recognised activities, including:
- Employment (full-time, part-time, and casual),
- Actively looking for work, job interviews, and résumé workshops,
- Volunteering,
- Studying or training (including recognised courses at TAFE Queensland or QLD universities),
- Unpaid work in a family business,
- Parental leave after returning to work,
- Self-employment or running your own business, and
- Travel time between childcare and activity locations.
The following activities are only recognised for a certain amount of time:
- Periods of unpaid leave for up to 6 months (not including unpaid parental leave),
- Setting up a business for 6 months out of every 12 months, and
- 16 hours per fortnight if your only activity is volunteering or actively looking for work.
CCS activity test hours breakdown
Under the current CCS activity test, the government has set the following four activity levels:
| Activity per fortnight | Hours of subsidised care each fortnight per child |
| Less than 8 hours | 0 hours if you earn above $85,279,24 hours if you earn $85,279 or below |
| More than 8–16 hours | 36 hours |
| More than 16–48 hours | 72 hours |
| More than 48 hours | 100 hours |
Remember that these activity levels are calculated per parent, and the parent with the lower hours will determine the subsidy tier. If your activity levels change, be sure to keep them updated in myGov to ensure you’re accessing the right hours of subsidised care you’re entitled to.
Upcoming 2026 changes: Introducing the 3 Day Guarantee
From the 5th of January 2026, the CCS activity test will be replaced with the 3 Day Guarantee. This entitles all CCS-eligible families to at least 72 hours (equivalent to 3 days) of subsidised childcare per fortnight. Some families will be able to access 100 hours of subsidised childcare each fortnight based on their circumstances.
While the current activity test still applies, from the 5th of January 2026, the following two activity levels will come into effect:
| Your situation | Hours of subsidised care each fortnight per child |
| 48 hours or less of recognised participation each fortnight | 72 hours |
| More than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight Caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child Approved exemptions Getting Additional CCS child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship, or grandparent payments | 100 hours |
These changes represent the next step toward building a universal early childhood education and care system. Ultimately, the 3 Day Guarantee is intended to simplify access to childcare for families with non-traditional activity hours.
With these changes due to roll out in early 2026, it’s important to plan ahead to make the most of your childcare.
Where to get help navigating these changes
All existing CCS-eligible families will have the new changes automatically applied from the 5th of January 2026, based on the information they have reported in the system. For families that are currently entitled to less than 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, their entitlement will automatically increase to the new minimum from the rollover date. If you’ll be applying for the CCS for the first time, or updating your details any time after the 5th of January 2026, you’ll use a new, simplified application.
For more information on the upcoming changes, visit Services Australia or the Starting Blocks website. Alternatively, if your child is a part of the Kids ELC community, our friendly team are happy to answer any questions you have about the new 3 Day Guarantee.
Make the most of the new CCS activity test
The new and improved CCS activity test is your ticket to maximising your subsidised childcare hours. With these changes on the horizon, Queensland families are better positioned to access affordable, high-quality childcare.
Looking for a safe, supportive, and nurturing early learning and care environment for your little one? Find a local Kids ELC near you and book a tour to see how we can help your child thrive.
