Child Care Subsidy Calculator
The Child Care Subsidy Calculator helps families in Canberra and across Australia estimate how much financial support they may receive toward early education and care fees. In just a few quick steps, you can see your likely CCS percentage, the number of subsidised hours you could be eligible for each fortnight, and an estimate of your out-of-pocket childcare costs — making it easier to plan ahead and budget with confidence.
Our calculator is designed for families using childcare in Canberra, including centre-based day care, family day care, preschools, and OSHC services. Simply enter your household income, recognised activity hours, type of care, hourly fee, and hours used. The tool applies the latest government settings and hourly rate caps to give you an accurate estimate of the support you may receive. For a full explanation of how the subsidy works, visit our Child Care Subsidy guide.
Why Use This Child Care Subsidy Calculator?
Budgeting for childcare in Canberra becomes far easier when you can model real-life scenarios — and that’s exactly what this tool is designed to do. The Child Care Subsidy Calculator allows you to test different combinations of care types, hours, and fees before you enrol, helping you make informed decisions about your family’s early education needs.
It’s particularly useful if you’re comparing Centre Based Day Care and Family Day Care, or if you’re planning changes to your work or study routine that could affect your recognised activity hours. Because the calculator uses current CCS rules and hourly rate caps, it provides a realistic estimate of what you can expect to pay — supporting you to choose the right service for your child and budget with confidence.
Child Care Subsidy Calculator
5 January 2026: Updated to include the new 3 Day Guarantee
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Estimator – 2025–26 (3 Day Guarantee)
Estimated CCS %:
Eligible hourly fee (cap applied): $
Subsidised hours allowed: / fortnight
Estimated subsidy this fortnight: $
Estimated out-of-pocket this fortnight: $
This is a guide only. Figures are estimates and exclude ACCS and reconciliation/withholding. Always check your assessment in myGov or with your provider.
How to Use Our Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Family income (annual) — Enter your total household income as reported to Centrelink/myGov (for example, 95,000).
Recognised activity hours (per fortnight) — Add your combined activity hours, including work, study, volunteering, job seeking, or unpaid work in a family business.
Child rank (under 6) — Select Eldest under 6 (standard rate) or Second/younger under 6 (higher rate) if you have multiple children under five.
Care type — Choose from Centre Based Day Care (CBDC), Family Day Care (FDC), Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), or In-Home Care (IHC).
Is the child school-aged? — Choose Yes or No. This affects the hourly rate cap and OSHC eligibility.
Service hourly fee ($) — Enter the hourly fee charged by your provider before subsidy (e.g. 12.50).
Hours used (per fortnight) — Estimate how many hours of care you’ll use each fortnight (e.g. 40).
Click “Calculate CCS” to view your estimated subsidy.
This tool provides an estimate only. Your actual Child Care Subsidy will be determined by Services Australia.
What the Results Mean
Estimated CCS % — This shows your projected subsidy percentage based on your family income, recognised activity hours, child rank and the type of care you use. (Output: “Estimated CCS %”)
Eligible hourly fee (cap applied) — CCS is calculated using the lower of your service’s hourly fee or the government’s hourly rate cap. This value represents the amount CCS can apply to. (Output: “Eligible hourly fee (cap applied)”)
Subsidised hours allowed / fortnight — The maximum number of hours CCS may subsidise each fortnight, determined by your recognised activity hours. (Output: “Subsidised hours allowed / fortnight”)
Estimated subsidy this fortnight — The total dollar amount of CCS you may receive for the hours you have booked (up to your subsidised limit). (Output: “Estimated subsidy this fortnight”)
Estimated out-of-pocket this fortnight — Your remaining fee after CCS is applied — the amount you will pay to your provider for the period. (Output: “Estimated out-of-pocket this fortnight”)
Many families are surprised by how significantly the Child Care Subsidy can reduce their early learning and care costs. Because CCS takes into account income, activity hours, child order and care type, two households with similar circumstances can still receive different subsidy percentages. Using a calculator before you enrol helps you compare care options, understand how potential changes — like adjusting work hours or selecting a service with a different hourly fee — might impact your support, and plan your budget with confidence. These results aren’t just figures; they’re a practical tool for exploring your options and making informed decisions about your child’s early education in Canberra.
Inputs Explained (Quick Reference)
Family income (annual): Determines your Child Care Subsidy percentage — up to around 90% for lower-income households, tapering as income increases.
Recognised activity hours (per fortnight): Sets your subsidised hours tier. Includes work, study, volunteering, job seeking, or unpaid work in a family business.
Child rank (under 6): If you have more than one child under five, younger siblings may receive a higher CCS rate than the eldest.
Care type: Different care types have different hourly rate caps — Centre Based Day Care (CBDC), Family Day Care (FDC), Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and In-Home Care (IHC).
Is the child school-aged?: Determines whether OSHC caps apply and affects eligibility for certain care types.
Service hourly fee ($): What your provider charges per hour; CCS compares this against the relevant government hourly rate cap.
Hours used (per fortnight): How many hours of care you plan to use; CCS applies only up to your subsidised hours limit.
Canberra Examples
CBDC, two working parents (Belconnen):
Income $120,000, activity 100+ hours, CBDC, not school-aged, fee $14.50, hours 40.
The calculator shows a solid CCS %, an eligible hourly fee that may be capped if it exceeds the CBDC rate cap, and a noticeably reduced out-of-pocket cost each fortnight.
FDC, part-time worker (Gungahlin):
Income $78,000, activity 36 hours, FDC, not school-aged, fee $12.80, hours 28.
Although the family qualifies for fewer subsidised hours, a strong CCS percentage helps keep weekly gap fees manageable.
OSHC, school-aged (Tuggeranong):
Income $95,000, activity 80 hours, OSHC, school-aged, fee $11.00, hours 10.
CCS applies using OSHC hourly rate caps, with the final out-of-pocket cost depending on the number of booked sessions.
Examples are illustrative only — enter your own details for accurate results.
Local Tips for Canberra Families
- Ask your provider for a full fee schedule (including meals, nappies, programs, and extras) so you can make fair, like-for-like comparisons.
- Popular centres in high-demand areas — such as Belconnen, Gungahlin, Woden and inner-south suburbs — can fill up quickly, so it’s worth running estimates early.
- If you have more than one child under five, make sure you choose the correct child rank when using the calculator so you can accurately model the higher CCS rate for younger siblings.
Across Canberra — where demand for early learning is consistently strong and fees vary between suburbs — having access to a Child Care Subsidy Calculator can make a significant difference. It lets you test different scenarios, estimate the financial impact of part-time versus full-time care, and see how your subsidy may shift if you have multiple children under six. For many families, the calculator is an essential planning tool when comparing services, preparing for a return to work or study, and ensuring childcare remains both affordable and sustainable.
Next Steps
The Child Care Subsidy Calculator is most powerful when used as part of a broader planning strategy. Once you know your estimated CCS percentage and expected out-of-pocket cost, you can start comparing providers, reviewing inclusions, and planning for any future changes in income or family circumstances. This proactive approach helps Canberra families maximise their subsidy entitlement while choosing early learning options that support their child’s development and suit their financial goals.
Some useful next steps for Canberra parents include:
- Learn how CCS works in detail by visiting our Canberra Child Care Subsidy guide, covering eligibility, rates, activity test requirements and how to apply.
- Browse Canberra services that accept CCS through our Childcare in Canberra directory.
- Shortlist a few centres and request their hourly fees and inclusions — then re-run the calculator to compare potential gap fees more accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions – Child Care Subsidy Calculator (Canberra)
Q: Does this calculator submit anything to Centrelink?
A: No. It’s a private planning tool only — nothing is sent to Centrelink or myGov.
Q: Why is my estimate different from the quote given by a service?
A: Services may charge different fees, have unique booking patterns, or include extras that influence your total cost. CCS also uses hourly rate caps, which can lower the eligible amount. The calculator shows how these caps affect your estimate.
Q: Do part-time hours still qualify for CCS?
A: Yes. Part-time work, study, volunteering and job-seeking all count as recognised activity. However, fewer activity hours usually mean fewer subsidised hours per fortnight.
Q: Will my results change if my income changes?
A: Yes. Updating your income or activity hours in the calculator — and in myGov — ensures your estimate reflects your current circumstances.
Q: Does CCS apply to OSHC and vacation care?
A: Yes, as long as the provider is CCS-approved. Select OSHC in the calculator to estimate costs for school-aged care, including before/after school and vacation care.
