Understanding the New 3-Day Childcare Guarantee & What It Means for Your Family

We have some genuinely exciting news to share. Starting from 5 January 2026, a new federal initiative makes quality early learning more accessible for families across the state (and the country).

To learn more about the new guarantee, we spoke to Caitlin Griffin, one of our operations specialists at Kool Kidz, to break down exactly what this means for you and your little ones.

What Is the 3-Day Guarantee?

From early next year, every eligible family in Victoria will automatically have access to a minimum of 72 hours for subsidised childcare per fortnight. That’s three days a week at long daycare centres, and the best part? You won’t need to prove your work hours or jump through activity test hoops to access it.

“This is really about removing barriers,” Caitlin explained. “Previously, families had to meet certain activity requirements to qualify for subsidised hours. Now, whether you’re working full-time, part-time, studying, or taking some time between jobs, your child has guaranteed access to quality early learning.”

For First Nations families, there’s even better news. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will be eligible for up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.

How Will This Help Your Budget?

To be clear, this isn’t about free childcare. You’ll still have gap fees to pay (that’s the difference between what your centre charges and what the government subsidy covers). But many families will 4see real savings.

Before this initiative, if you were only working or studying part-time, you might have only qualified for 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.

That meant that if you needed your child in care for more than that, you would pay full fees for those extra hours. From 5 January 2026, those same families will automatically receive 72 hours of subsidised time.

“We’re seeing a lot of parents who’ve been trying to make part-time work hours match up with limited childcare subsidy hours,” Caitlin shared. “This change means they can access the care they actually need without that financial stress.”

You can get an estimate of your personal savings using our Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

The Flexibility Factor

One of the things parents keep asking us about is flexibility, and this is where the new guarantee really shines. You don’t have to use your 72 hours as exactly three days every single week.

One week you need two days, and the following week you need four. You may have a big work project or exams coming up, and you need more support for a fortnight. The 72 hours are yours to use over the fortnight in a way that works best for your family’s schedule.

Why Early Childhood Education Matters More Than You Might Think

The ages between zero and three are absolutely critical for development. These are the years when kids absorb language like little sponges, learn to interact with others, and lay the foundations for everything they’ll learn later.

“When children have access to quality early childhood education, we see them developing vocabulary, social skills, and emotional regulation in ways that really set them up for success,” Caitlin explained. “It’s not just about keeping kids busy while parents work. It’s about giving them rich learning experiences during their most formative years.”

Which is why the 3-Day Guarantee is particularly powerful for families with babies and toddlers.

Previously, many families found it hard to justify the cost of long daycare for their little ones, especially if they were only working part-time. Now, with guaranteed subsidised hours, more families can give their children that crucial early start.

What About Kids Already in the Free Kinder Program?

If you have a three or four-year-old, you might be wondering how this fits with Victoria’s free kinder initiative, which already provides $2,000 off kindergarten fees each year. The good news is they work together.

Your child can still access their funded kindergarten program while also being eligible for subsidised care at long daycare centres like Kool Kidz for additional days, which is brilliant for working parents who need more than just the sessional kindergarten hours.

It also means your child gets that structured kindergarten learning while you get the flexibility of full-day care when you need it. Plus, those extra days in an early learning environment help with school readiness in ways that really make a difference come prep year.

How Kool Kidz Is Preparing

Our team across all our centres has been working hard to make sure we’re ready to support families as they take advantage of this new opportunity.

Right now, we’re reaching out to our existing families first, making sure they understand what the guarantee means for them and how they can increase their days if that’s what they need. We want our current families to have access to any additional spots that open up.

We’re also reviewing our staffing levels to ensure we have brilliant educators ready to welcome new families.

Does This Affect You?

The short answer is: if you’re a Victorian family with young children, this affects you. Every family is eligible for the 3-Day Guarantee, though the amount you’ll pay still depends on your family’s income (just as the current Child Care Subsidy system works).

But if you’re already receiving more than 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight because you’re working or studying full-time, nothing changes for you. You’ll keep your current entitlement.

This guarantee is really about lifting the floor, making sure no family gets less than 72 hours, not about capping anyone who’s already getting more.

What You Need to Do Next

The guarantee kicks in automatically from 5 January 2026. If you’re already enrolled with Kool Kidz, you’ll simply see the changes reflected in your Child Care Subsidy entitlement.

If you’re not currently using childcare but you’ve been thinking about it, now’s a great time to have a chat with us. You can visit us at any of our Kool Kidz centres across Melbourne, or get in touch and book a tour through our website.

We’re more than happy to walk you through what this means for your specific situation and help you work out a schedule that suits your family.

The Bottom Line

This 3-Day Guarantee is a recognition that quality early learning should be accessible to all families, not just those who tick certain boxes. It’s about reducing the complexity of childcare, and giving Victorian kids the best possible start in life.

As Caitlin put it, “This is a win-win. Families get the support they need, children get access to quality early learning during those crucial developmental years, and the whole early childhood sector benefits from more families being able to choose the care that’s right for them.”

We’re genuinely excited about what this means for families. If you have questions about how the 3-Day Guarantee might work for your family, or if you’d like to have a chat about enrolling at Kool Kidz, we’d love to hear from you.