Child Care Subsidy(CCS)

Making childcare more affordable for your family. Learn how CCS works, check your eligibility, and see how we can help you get started.

Maximising Your Child Care Entitlements

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government payment that helps reduce the cost of childcare for eligible Australian families. Understanding how it works can help you get the most out of your entitlements and keep your out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.

How Eligibility Works

Most families are eligible for CCS. How much you receive depends on a few things:

Your family’s income

This affects the percentage of subsidy you can claim.

Your activity level

The number of hours you and your partner work, study, or volunteer.

The hourly rate cap

The maximum hourly rate the government will subsidise.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, you can check the CCS Eligibility Criteria or contact us at any time. We’re here to help.

How To Apply

Applying for CCS is straightforward, but we understand it can feel overwhelming at first. To get started, you’ll need to set up a MyGov account and link it to Centrelink if you haven’t already. From there, you can submit your Child Care Subsidy claim online by providing your income details and confirming your family’s activity level.

Once your claim is approved, you’ll receive a Customer Reference Number (CRN) for you and your child. When you enrol at Coombs, please share those CRNs with us so we can enter your details into the system. Finally, you’ll need to log back into MyGov to confirm your Complying Written Agreement (CWA).

If you’re new to CCS, it can help to allow a little extra time for the claim to be processed before your child’s start date, as approvals can take a few weeks. Make sure your MyGov contact details are up to date so you don’t miss any notifications. If you have questions or need a hand, our team is always here to guide you.

Tips for a Smooth Start

Register early

Begin your CCS application as soon as you can. Approvals can take a few weeks, and applying early helps you avoid paying full fees out of pocket while you wait.

Check your details

Make sure your MyGov and Centrelink contact information is current.

Keep records handy

Have your Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) ready when you enrol.

Reach out anytime

If you need help, we’re here to walk you through each step.

Coming Soon – The 3-Day Guarantee

From January 2026, all eligible families will receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, even if you’re not working or studying. This new guarantee makes accessing quality early learning easier for every family.

Using the CCS Estimator

If you’d like to get an idea of what your subsidy could be, you can use the Child Care Subsidy Estimator on the Services Australia website. This quick tool will help you see an approximate reduction in your fees.

FAQs About CCS

Yes. From January 2026, most families will receive a minimum number of subsidised hours even if you don’t meet the activity test.

When you apply through MyGov, you’ll need your Customer Reference Number (CRN), your child’s CRN, and your income details. When you enrol at Coombs, we’ll also ask you to provide both CRNs so we can set up your enrolment in our system.

The subsidy is paid directly to Coombs Early Learning, which reduces your daily fees. You’ll only pay the remaining gap amount.

Yes, just let us know if your care needs change. We’ll help update your enrolment details and ensure your CCS stays up to date.

Once your enrolment is confirmed in MyGov and you’ve accepted your Complying Written Agreement (CWA) with Coombs, CCS payments usually start from your child’s first day.

Ready to Start Your Enrolment Journey?

We’d love to help you understand your Child Care Subsidy and secure a place at Coombs Early Learning. Reach out today to get started.