Childcare Subsidy Calculator & Victorian Free Kinder
Calculate Your Savings
Navigating childcare costs can be complex, but our childcare subsidy calculator is designed to give local families a clear, up-to-date estimate of their out-of-pocket expenses. Whether you’re returning to work or planning for the year ahead, use our daycare calculator to see how much you can save under the latest Federal and Victorian State policies.
Using the Childcare Subsidy Calculator
To get the most accurate results from our daycare calculator, have the following information ready:
- Combined Family Income: Your estimated adjusted taxable income for the financial year.
- Number of Children: Remember, families with more than one child aged 5 or under may be eligible for a higher subsidy rate (up to 95%) for their second and subsequent children.
- Hours of Care: Input your desired days at Kool Kidz to see the daily vs. weekly breakdown.
Note: Our child care subsidy calculator provides a high-quality estimate based on current 2026/27 legislation. For a formal assessment, please link your MyGov account to Centrelink.
Use our Child Care Subsidy Calculator to find out how much you will pay.
Based on 2026–2027 Child Care Subsidy Rates
The Australian Government has updated the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to make early education more affordable. From 7 July 2026, the income thresholds and hourly rate caps have increased to reflect annual indexation.
- Maximum Subsidy: Families earning $88,520 or less will receive a 90% subsidy.
- Income Cap: Families with a combined income below $538,520 may be eligible for a partial subsidy.
- Hourly Rate Cap: For Centre-Based Day Care, the 2026–27 hourly rate cap is $15.19 per hour.
- Families earning more than $88,520 and less than $538,520 will receive a subsidy that tapers down from 90%, decreasing by 1% for every $5,000 of additional family income.
- Families earning $538,520 or more will receive 0% subsidy.
- Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care can continue to receive a higher subsidy (up to 95%) for their second and younger children, subject to eligibility.
To learn more about the Child Care Subsidy and the latest changes, visit the Australian Government’s Department of Education website. Child Care Subsidy – Department of Education, Australian Government
https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/providers/child-care-subsidy
The “3-Day Guarantee”
New for 2026
The most significant change to the child care subsidy calculator logic arrives on January 5, 2026. Under the new 3-Day Guarantee, the restrictive “activity test” has been simplified.
- 72 Hours Guaranteed: All CCS-eligible families are now entitled to at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (approx. 3 days per week), regardless of how many hours you work or study.
- This ensures every child has access to quality early learning, making our daycare calculator essential for stay-at-home parents or those with casual work hours.
Exclusive Bonus for Victorian Families: Free Kinder 2026
If you are using a childcare subsidy calculator in Victoria, your real costs might be even lower than the federal estimate! At Kool Kidz, we are a Victorian Government’s Free Kinder program.
- $2,101 Annual Saving: For children in 3-year-old or 4-year-old kindergarten, families receive a fee offset of up to $2,101 per year.
Why choose Kool Kidz?
Beyond the savings found in our childcare subsidy calculator, Kool Kidz offers a premium Victorian curriculum that integrates the Free Kinder program into a long day care setting. This means your child gets the best of both worlds: high-quality kindergarten education with the flexibility of extended daycare hours.
