Child Care Subsidy calculator

How much will childcare cost you after the government subsidy? Use our Child Care Subsidy calculator to estimate your out-of-pocket fees at Little Stars in Toongabbie. Choose a room, enter your family income and the days you need, and see what you'd pay per day, per week and per fortnight, using the 2026–27 Child Care Subsidy rates.

How does the calculator work it out?

The calculator follows the Child Care Subsidy rules published by Services Australia for the 2026–27 financial year:

• Your CCS percentage comes from your family's combined income. Families earning up to $88,520 get 90%. Above that, it drops by 1% for every $5,000 of income, reaching 0% at $538,520.
• A higher rate for younger children. If you have more than one child aged 5 or under in care, younger children can get up to 95%, for family incomes under $370,727.
• The hourly rate cap. The subsidy applies to your hourly fee or the government's cap, whichever is lower. For centre-based day care in 2026–27, the cap is $15.19 an hour for children below school age.
• Subsidised hours. Since 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee gives every eligible family at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight. Families with more than 48 hours a fortnight of work, study or volunteering, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, can get 100.
• Withholding. Services Australia holds back 5% of your subsidy by default, and pays it back when you balance your CCS after the financial year.

What's included in our daily fee?

At Little Stars, our daily fees are $156 for Lilly Pilly (babies), $151 for Wattle (toddlers) and $145 for Waratah (preschool). They include fresh meals made every day by our own chef, and nappies. We're open from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the fee is the same for a 9, 10 or 11-hour session.

Is this exactly what I'll pay?

It's an estimate, and a good place to start. Your actual subsidy depends on your circumstances as assessed by Services Australia. For an official estimate, use the Payment Finder from Services Australia or the calculator on Starting Blocks. We're also happy to work through the numbers with you on a tour.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for Child Care Subsidy?
Claim through your myGov account linked to Centrelink, before your child starts care. Until your claim is approved, full fees apply.

What is the 3 Day Guarantee?
From 5 January 2026, every family eligible for Child Care Subsidy gets at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight, whatever their work or study hours. That covers three 11-hour days a week.

What income does the calculator use?
Your family's combined adjusted taxable income estimate for the financial year, which is what Services Australia uses.

Does the subsidy cover the whole daily fee?
It covers your CCS percentage of the fee, up to the hourly cap. With an 11-hour session, the cap adds up to about $167 a day, so our daily fees are fully within it.

Why is the amount I pay higher at first?
Because 5% of your subsidy is withheld until you balance at the end of the financial year. You can change how much is withheld in myGov.

Come and see us

Families from Toongabbie, Seven Hills, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill and Girraween use this calculator before they visit. Read our articles for parents, see our rooms, and book a tour to go through your numbers with us.