Understanding the 2025-2026 Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Changes

Child with educator

With the upcoming changes to the CCS, we’d like to take a moment to offer some helpful insights and share useful links to support your understanding.

From 7 July 2025, the Australian Government will introduce changes to the CCS.
While these updates aim to make childcare more affordable overall, they can sometimes create questions about how they affect what you pay.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming changes:

Changes to the Maximum Hourly Subsidy Rate

The Government’s hourly rate cap (the maximum fee they will subsidise) will increase for all types of childcare. This means they will cover slightly more per hour of care.

 Updated Family Income Thresholds

  • Families earning up to $85,279 will receive the maximum CCS rate of 90%.
  • For families earning between $85,279 and $535,279, the CCS rate reduces by 1% for every $5,000 earned.
  • Families earning $535,279 or more will no longer receive CCS.

Please keep in mind these thresholds are reviewed every year to keep up with the cost of living.

At Bright Steps Academy, our mission is to create a nurturing and inspiring environment where your child comes first.

Work Out Your Out-of-Pocket Costs Here:

Use our CCS Calculator to estimate how much child care may cost your family after the subsidy is applied.

CCS calculator

Our team is committed to:

  • Upholding a strong and open communication with our community about the CCS changes
  • Always being available to our families to answer any question about the enrolment process, which includes CCS
  • Supporting each family to feel informed and prepared for the upcoming CCS

We truly believe that caring for your child means supporting your whole family, including helping you navigate these details.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to speak with your Centre Manager.

We’re always here to support you and your child’s journey every step of the way!

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Additional Resources

To learn more about the orientation process, please consider visiting:

Our Core Values

At Bright Steps Academy, everything we do is shaped by our values:

Belonging

We create a welcoming, inclusive environment where each child and family feels seen and safe.

Respect

We value and honour the voices, needs and experiences of both children, families and the community.

Individuality

We recognise and celebrate what makes each child unique and tailor our care and educational program to reflect their needs and current developmental milestones.

Growth

We support each child’s development at their own pace, fostering curiosity, confidence and resilience.

Happiness

We nurture joy and emotional wellbeing in every child through meaningful relationships, meaningful experiences and everyday spontaneous discovery.

Teamwork

We partner closely with families and the community to build a strong, supportive learning community.