Child Care Subsidy in Glebe: A Simple Guide for Parents
By Little Woods Early Learning5 min read
Starting childcare comes with plenty of questions, and cost is often one of the first. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the main way the Australian Government helps families with the cost of approved childcare. This guide explains how it works in simple terms, and how it applies if you are considering Little Woods Early Learning at 61 Arundel Street, Glebe.
One important point first: Services Australia decides whether your family is eligible for CCS and how much subsidy you receive. Little Woods does not set or guarantee subsidy amounts. Our role is to set our fees, record your child's attendance and apply the subsidy Services Australia pays to your account.
What is the Child Care Subsidy?
CCS is a payment from the Australian Government that helps eligible families with the cost of approved childcare, including long day care services like Little Woods. Services Australia pays the subsidy directly to your childcare provider, which then reduces the fees you pay. The amount left for you to pay is often called the "gap fee".
Who may be eligible?
Services Australia sets the eligibility rules. In general, to get CCS you need to:
- care for a child aged 13 or younger who is not yet attending secondary school
- use an approved childcare service
- meet the residency requirements
- meet immunisation requirements for your child.
Exceptions and extra rules can apply, so please check the Child Care Subsidy eligibility guidance on the Services Australia website for your family's situation.
How to apply through myGov and Centrelink
You apply for CCS online through your Centrelink account, which you access through myGov. In broad terms:
- Create a myGov account, if you don't already have one, and link it to Centrelink.
- Submit a claim for Child Care Subsidy, including an estimate of your family income.
- Once your child is enrolled, confirm the enrolment in your Centrelink online account.
It's a good idea to start your claim well before your child's first day, because CCS can't be applied to your fees until your claim is assessed and your enrolment is confirmed. See how to claim Child Care Subsidy for Services Australia's current steps.
How CCS hours and percentages work
Two things mainly shape your subsidy: how many hours are subsidised and what percentage of your fee is covered.
Subsidised hours: the 3 Day Guarantee
From 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee replaced the previous activity test. Under the new rules:
- all CCS-eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight for each child (about three days a week)
- families may qualify for up to 100 hours per fortnight for each child through recognised participation (such as work or study), if they are caring for a First Nations child, through an exemption or exceptional circumstances, or under certain Additional Child Care Subsidy arrangements.
To get more than 72 hours, you need to report your recognised activity to Services Australia. Read more in the StartingBlocks guide to the 3 Day Guarantee.
The 3 Day Guarantee changes how many hours are subsidised. It does not change how your subsidy percentage is worked out, and most families will still pay a gap fee.
Your subsidy percentage
Your CCS percentage is based mainly on your estimated combined family income for the financial year. Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care may get a higher percentage for their second and younger children. Subsidy is also limited by an hourly rate cap set by the government, which means the percentage is applied to your actual hourly fee or the cap, whichever is lower.
Income thresholds and rate caps are updated regularly, so we don't list them here. Services Australia publishes the current CCS income thresholds and percentages.
Little Woods daily fees
Little Woods cares for children from birth to 6 years across three age groups. Our fees are charged per 10-hour session of care (8 am–6 pm). Our current published daily fees are:
| Program | Ages | Daily fee (10-hour session) | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Nest | Birth – 2 years | $190 | $19.00 |
| Little Explorers | 2 – 3 years | $190 | $19.00 |
| Woodland Learners | 3 – 6 years | $182 | $18.20 |
Our daily fee includes meals and snacks, prepared by Kids Gourmet Food (KGF) in its own kitchen and delivered to the centre daily, along with nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats. You can see full details on our Fees & CCS page.
Estimating your out-of-pocket cost
Your gap fee depends on your CCS percentage, the number of subsidised hours you are entitled to, the hours charged for each day of care and the government's hourly rate cap. Because these depend on your family's circumstances, the most reliable estimate comes from Services Australia.
You can:
- use the official StartingBlocks Child Care Subsidy calculator
- note that each day of care at Little Woods is charged as a 10-hour session, so your estimate uses the right figures.
Any estimate is a guide only. Your actual subsidy is assessed and paid by Services Australia, and Little Woods cannot guarantee any family's subsidy amount or gap fee.
What happens after you enrol
Once your enrolment is in place, Little Woods creates an enrolment with Services Australia. You then confirm it in your Centrelink online account. After that, Services Australia pays your subsidy to us and we pass it on as a reduction in your fees.
Services Australia usually withholds a small portion of your subsidy during the year. After the financial year ends, your actual family income is compared with your estimate in a process called balancing. Keeping your income estimate and details up to date can help you avoid a debt. Learn more about balancing your Child Care Subsidy.
You can follow the full steps on our How to Enrol page.
Before your child's first day
A short checklist can make the start feel calmer:
- Submit your CCS claim through myGov and Centrelink.
- Confirm your child's enrolment in your Centrelink online account.
- Check that your child's immunisation records are up to date.
- Update your income estimate if your circumstances change.
- Read our Frequently Asked Questions for everyday details.
Come and see Little Woods
The best way to understand whether Little Woods suits your family is to visit. You can meet our team, see our rooms and ask any questions about fees and enrolment in person. Book a tour to see our Glebe centre.
