Childcare Subsidy Calculator
Calculate Your Savings: 2026 Child Care Subsidy & Victorian Free Kinder
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 under 6 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 2025/26 legislation. For a formal assessment, please link your MyGov account to Centrelink.
How Much Will You Pay? 2025–2026 CCS Rates
The Australian Government has updated the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to make early education more affordable. As of July 7, 2025, the income thresholds and hourly caps have increased to reflect the current cost of living.
- Maximum Subsidy: Families earning up to $85,279 now receive a 90% subsidy.
- Income Cap: Families with a combined income up to $535,279 remain eligible for partial support.
- Hourly Rate Cap: For Centre-Based Day Care, the 2025–26 cap is $14.63 per hour.
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.
