What the New 3 Day Guarantee Means for Queensland Families

Big changes are coming to childcare support in Australia that will make early learning more accessible for families. From 5 January 2026, a new policy called the 3 Day Guarantee will change how subsidised child care hours are worked out under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

What Is the 3 Day Guarantee?

The 3 Day Guarantee is a Government initiative that ensures all families eligible for CCS can receive at least three days of subsidised child care per week, regardless of their work, study or volunteering commitments.

In practical terms:

• Every eligible child will now have a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (the same as three days of care each week).
• This is a base entitlement and applies even if parents don’t meet the previous activity test (which used to require a certain number of work/study hours to qualify).

What This Means for You

The 3 Day Guarantee aims to:

• Make early learning more accessible for every eligible family
• Reduce the number of unsubsidised child care hours families pay for
• Support children’s early development by keeping them engaged in quality early education
• Ease cost-of-living pressures for families with young children

Who Benefits?

All families who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy will be able to access at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – the same as three days per week – starting in early 2026.

Some families may still access up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (more than three days) if they:

• have higher recognised participation (such as work, study or volunteering hours),
• have a valid exemption, or
• are caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.

The guarantee is about lifting the minimum level for all CCS-eligible families, not reducing support for those already accessing more.

What’s not Changing?

• The Child Care Subsidy itself, including how much of the cost it covers, isn’t changing. You’ll still receive a subsidy based on your family’s circumstances.
• You will still have a gap fee to pay to your early learning provider, which is the difference between the subsidised amount and the centre’s usual fee.
• You’ll still need to book your child’s place with your early learning service, as the subsidy isn’t automatic – enrolment and session choices are determined by you and your provider.

What You Need to Do

For most families, no action is needed:

• If your CCS account is already active, the new hours will be applied automatically from 5 January 2026.
• If you’re not currently receiving CCS, but think you might now be eligible under these changes, you can check and apply via Services Australia.

It’s still important to keep your Centrelink details up to date and confirm your child’s enrolment days to take full advantage of the new guarantee.

Early childhood education lays the foundation for lifelong learning, wellbeing and confidence. The 3 Day Guarantee helps make quality early learning more accessible and predictable for families like yours. It means more children can benefit from time in early learning settings that support their development, friendships and readiness for school.

For many families, especially those who had limited access under the previous activity test, this reform can be a real help with planning, budgeting and choosing early childhood education that fits your family’s needs.

If you have questions about how these changes might affect your circumstances, we’re here to help. Reach out to your local Lady Gowrie Queensland centre or visit the Department of Education’s information page.