The new 3 Day Guarantee childcare subsidy coming into effect 5 January 2026. This means no more activity test and a higher family income threshold, making accessing quality and consistent early learning education now even easier to access.

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Enrolling your child into early learning can be stressful, and government subsidies are often the last thing on your mind. But with costs rising and more families relying on dual incomes, affordable childcare has never been more essential. 

Thanks to the Australian Government’s new 3 Day Guarantee which has seen as the removal of the activity test, and a higher family income threshold, families now have access to greater savings and more flexible care, making early learning more accessible than ever before.

What is the 3 Day Guarantee?

From 5 January 2026, the Australian Government is investing $426.7 million to guarantee 3 full days of subsidised childcare per week for eligible families. 

This new scheme will: 

• Support universal access to early learning 

• Help more children become school-ready 

• Deliver targeted cost-of-living relief 

First Nations families will receive 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, a major increase from the previous 36 hours. 

Real Savings for Real Families 

Based on 36 hours/week for 50 weeks of care, families can expect that following savings: 

For example, a family earning $90,000/year previously only qualified for 18 hours of subsidised care. With the 3 Day Guarantee, they’ll now receive 36 hours/week (72 hours per fortnight), doubling their access and dramatically reducing out-of-pocket costs. 

Activity Test Removal 

As part of the introduction of the 3 Day Guarantee, the Activity Test will be removed, eliminating a major barrier for families.  

The activity test, first introduced in 2018, required a parent to work, study or volunteer to qualify for childcare subsidies.