3 Day Guarantee comes into effect: New CCS rules unlock access for families and children

Fiona Alston

Jan 05, 2026

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A landmark change to early childhood education and care (ECEC) has come into effect today, with the Australian Government’s 3 Day Guarantee now providing all Child Care Subsidy (CCS) eligible families with access to a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.

The reform marks a critical shift in the CCS activity test and is designed to improve access, inclusion and continuity for children, particularly those who were previously excluded or under-enrolled due to low or irregular levels of workforce participation.

From today, families across Australia will benefit from a guaranteed level of support, regardless of their employment, study or volunteering hours. The change is automatic for CCS-eligible families, and no additional application is required.

By removing the need to meet activity test thresholds for the first 72 hours, the guarantee supports families with casual, irregular or limited work activity, many of whom have struggled to access consistent early learning under the previous system.

The 3 Day Guarantee is expected to particularly benefit children experiencing vulnerability, families new to Australia, and households navigating complex needs or short-term hardship. More consistent attendance supports better educational outcomes, stronger relationships with educators, and improved wellbeing for children.

By increasing baseline access to early learning, the guarantee is also expected to support stronger workforce participation, particularly among women, by enabling families to take up more regular work, study or volunteering commitments.

ECEC providers will benefit from more stable enrolment patterns, better continuity of care, and greater capacity to plan high-quality learning programs, knowing that children will attend more consistently.

For more information about the 3 Day Guarantee and the CCS changes, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au

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