The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a financial assistance program provided by the Australian Government to help families with the cost of child care. It reduces out-of-pocket expenses for families and is paid directly to child care providers.

To be eligible for CCS, you must:

Care for a child 13 or younger who is not attending secondary school (unless an exemption applies)

Use an approved child care service

Be responsible for paying the child care fees

Meet residency requirements

Meet immunisation requirements for your child

CCS is calculated based on three factors:

Your family's combined income

The level of 'approved' activity you and your partner undertake (e.g., work, study, volunteering)

The type of child care service you use

You may also be able to get a higher subsidy if you have more than one child in care.

You can apply for CCS through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. You will need to provide details about your family’s income, your activity levels, and your child care arrangements.