When did the new 3-day childcare guarantee start in Australia?

The three-day guarantee for subsidized child care began on January 1.

How many more families are eligible for childcare subsidies?

An additional 100,000 families are now eligible for childcare subsidies under the new guarantee.

What did the Productivity Commission recommend about childcare activity tests?

The Productivity Commission recommended scrapping the activity test, stating it negatively impacted families without significantly boosting workforce participation.

Home / Business and Economy / Child Care Unlocked: 3-Day Subsidy Guarantee Now Active

Child Care Unlocked: 3-Day Subsidy Guarantee Now Active

5 Jan

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Summary

Parents now get 3 days of subsidized childcare weekly, regardless of work.
100,000 more families are eligible for childcare subsidies starting now.
Government invests $430 million over four years for this childcare policy.

Child Care Unlocked: 3-Day Subsidy Guarantee Now Active

Australian parents are now guaranteed at least three days of subsidized child care weekly, irrespective of their employment or study status. This 'three-day guarantee,' implemented on January 1, replaces the former activity test that limited subsidies based on parental work hours.

This crucial change expands eligibility to 100,000 more families, ensuring that access to quality early childhood education is no longer contingent on parents' work schedules. Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh emphasized that every child deserves this access, regardless of their background or location.

The Albanese government is allocating $430 million across four years to fund this initiative. Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that this policy provides working families with immediate choices and further help is anticipated from the start of 2026.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.