Child Care Subsidy Calculator
The Child Care Subsidy Calculator helps families estimate how much support they could receive toward childcare fees. In just a few steps you can see your likely CCS percentage, the number of subsidised hours per fortnight, and your estimated out-of-pocket costs — so you can budget with confidence.
Our Child Care Subsidy Calculator is designed for parents in Goulburn and across Australia. Enter your family income, recognised activity hours, care type, hourly fee, and hours used. The tool then estimates your subsidy using current settings and hourly rate caps. For full details about how the subsidy works, see our Child Care Subsidy guide.
Expanded CSS Calculator: Child Care Subsidy Guide offer a free, expanded CSS Calculator allowing you to save and compare various CSS scenarios – ideal if you want to compare centres side-by-side.
Why Use This Child Care Subsidy Calculator?
Budgeting for childcare is easier when you can model real scenarios. This Child Care Subsidy Calculator lets you compare different services, hours, and fees before you enrol. It’s especially helpful if you’re weighing up Centre Based Day Care vs Family Day Care, or planning changes to work or study that affect recognised activity hours.
Because it reflects current hourly rate caps and the main CCS rules, you’ll get a clearer picture of likely out-of-pocket costs — giving you confidence to choose a service that suits your child and your budget.
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.
Tip: If you have more than one child in care, run the calculator for each child. Younger siblings under 6 may receive a higher CCS rate, which can change the total out-of-pocket cost for your family.
What You’ll Need to Use the Child Care Subsidy Calculator
- Family income (annual): your combined before-tax income for the current financial year.
- Recognised activity hours: hours per fortnight for the parent with the lower activity (e.g., work, study, volunteering).
- Care type: Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, Outside School Hours Care, or In-Home Care.
- Hourly fee and hours used: your service’s hourly charge and how many hours your child attends each fortnight.
Get the Most Accurate Result
- Match service details: Use the actual hourly fee and session length quoted by your provider.
- Be realistic with hours: Enter the hours you’ll genuinely use; CCS only applies to attended hours up to your eligible limit.
- Use the lower activity: If there are two parents/guardians, enter the lower recognised activity hours.
- Re-run when things change: Income estimates and activity can shift — update your assumptions and compare again.
How the Child Care Subsidy is Estimated
The Child Care Subsidy Calculator provides an estimate only. It considers three key elements commonly used to determine CCS outcomes:
- CCS percentage: based mainly on family income (lower incomes receive a higher %).
- Subsidised hours: based on recognised activity hours (and minimums for lower-income households).
- Hourly rate cap: a government cap for each care type; subsidy is applied to the lower of your fee or the cap.
Your final CCS is assessed by Services Australia and may differ due to reconciliation, withholding, Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), or changes to personal circumstances.
Child Care Subsidy Calculator Glossary
When using the Child Care Subsidy Calculator, it helps to understand the main terms that affect your results:
- CCS Percentage: The proportion of your childcare fee covered by the government. Families with lower incomes receive a higher percentage, reducing their out-of-pocket costs.
- Hourly Rate Cap: The maximum hourly fee the government will subsidise for each care type (e.g., Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care). If your service charges above this cap, you must pay the difference.
- Recognised Activity Hours: The hours of activity (work, study, volunteering, looking for work, or approved training) that determine how many subsidised hours of care your family can claim each fortnight.
- Gap Fee: The remaining amount you pay after the subsidy is applied. This is what families typically budget for in their childcare expenses.
By keeping these terms in mind while using the calculator, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how the subsidy is applied and what factors most influence your family’s out-of-pocket costs.
Goulburn Child Care Subsidy Examples
Here are a few examples to show how the Child Care Subsidy might apply to families using childcare services in Goulburn:
CBDC, two working parents from Goulburn: Combined income $120,000, activity 100+ hours, Centre-Based Day Care (CBDC), not school-aged, fee $14.30 per hour, hours 40. The calculator shows a strong CCS percentage, with the eligible hourly fee capped if it exceeds the CBDC rate, resulting in a significantly reduced gap fee per fortnight.
FDC, part-time worker from Crookwell: Combined income $78,000, activity 36 hours, Family Day Care (FDC), not school-aged, fee $12.70 per hour, hours 28. Although fewer subsidised hours apply due to activity level, the high percentage subsidy keeps the weekly out-of-pocket cost manageable.
OSHC, school-aged from Marulan: Combined income $95,000, activity 80 hours, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), school-aged, fee $11.00 per hour, hours 10. CCS applies to the OSHC hourly cap, with the final out-of-pocket cost depending on the number of booked sessions.
Why Use a Child Care Subsidy Calculator?
- Plan your budget: see an estimate of fortnightly and term-time costs before you enrol.
- Compare services: test different hourly fees and programs to find the right fit.
- Understand eligibility: learn how income, activity hours, and care type can affect CCS.
Once you’ve used the Child Care Subsidy Calculator, you can explore providers and get in touch directly:
- Goulburn Childcare Centres — long day care and preschool programs.
- Goulburn Family Daycare — registered home-based educators with flexible hours.
- For providers: promote vacancies and reach local families actively searching for care.
Important Notes
- The Child Care Subsidy Calculator is a guide only and may not reflect future policy changes or indexation.
- Hourly rate caps vary by care type and school-age status; your service’s fee may be higher or lower than the cap.
- You can claim CCS only for approved services and for children who meet residency and immunisation requirements.
Need more detail? Read our full Child Care Subsidy Guide for a step-by-step overview, eligibility, application process, and helpful links.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Q: Is the calculator result the same as my official CCS?
A: No. The Child Care Subsidy Calculator provides an estimate for guidance only. Your official CCS is determined by Services Australia after you submit a claim and your provider confirms enrolment details.
Q: Do I need to include both parents’ activity hours?
A: Subsidised hours are generally based on the lower of the two parents’ recognised activity. If you’re a single parent, use your activity hours only.
Q: What if my income changes during the year?
A: Update your estimate in myGov when circumstances change. Services Australia reconciles CCS against your actual income at tax time, which can result in either a top-up or a debt if the estimate was incorrect.
Q: Does the calculator include Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)?
A: No. ACCS is a separate, higher level of support for eligible families (such as those at risk or in grandparent carer situations). Speak with your provider or Services Australia if you believe you may qualify.
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Page updated: January 5, 2026