New approved program list released for ACCS (Child Wellbeing)

The Australian Government has published the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) Child Wellbeing approved program list, outlining the programs that enable eligible families to access additional fee assistance to support children at risk.

Families participating in these approved programs are now eligible to apply for ACCS (Child Wellbeing), a targeted subsidy that provides up to 100% of the childcare fee (up to the hourly rate cap) for children who are at risk of serious abuse or neglect.

The programs included on the approved list are:

• Funded by state and territory child safety departments, and
• Designed to support families identified as being at high risk of entering, or escalating within, the child protection system or who are vulnerable but not currently engaged with that system.

By formally recognising these programs, the government aims to ensure that families engaged with child protection and early intervention services can more easily access affordable, stable early childhood education and care (ECEC).

This move reflects an ongoing commitment to integrated, wrap-around support for children and families facing adversity, helping to strengthen wellbeing, continuity of care, and access to early learning opportunities.

The full list of approved programs and further information about eligibility for ACCS (Child Wellbeing) is available on the Department of Education website.