Introducing the 3-Day Guarantee for Child Care – Coming January 2026

From January 2026, families across Australia will benefit from the Australian Government’s 3-Day Guarantee, providing access to three days (72 hours) of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight regardless of income or activity level.

At Orchard Early Learning Centre, we welcome this important reform and are committed to ensuring families can fully benefit from this new support.

What is the 3-Day Guarantee?

The 3-Day Guarantee removes the current activity test, making subsidised care more accessible for all families. This means:

Every CCS-eligible family will automatically receive 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, per child
No need to meet work, study or volunteer hour requirements to access subsidised care
Significant cost savings for families potentially over $10,000 per year

Why This Matters for Your Family

This policy means more flexibility, more affordability and more opportunity:

No barriers: More affordable quality early education without needing to prove work or study hours
More savings: Lower out-of-pocket fees help ease the cost of living
Better outcomes: Consistent attendance supports school readiness, social development and confidence

How much will families save?

According to the Department of Education’s fact sheet, the 3 Day Guarantee could result in significant savings for eligible families:

  
      Annual Household Income
      Weekly Saving
      Annual Saving (50 weeks)
    
      $90,000
      $230
      $11,400
    
      $120,000
      $220
      $10,630
    
      $140,000
      $200
      $10,110

What You Can Do Now?

Don't wait until January to secure your place. With increased demand expected from the 3-Day Guarantee, we strongly encourage families to lock in an extra day now to secure availability before our 2026 new year rolls are finalised.

Locking in your preferred days early ensures your family can access the full benefit of this reform and avoids the risk of missing out once the policy takes effect. Places at our services are in high demand. We encourage families to:

Enquire early for 2026 to secure preferred days
Speak with our team about how the changes may impact your entitlements
Join our waitlist to avoid missing out

If you'd like to adjust your child’s days or explore new enrolment options, our team is here to help.

To get started, simply contact us at enrol@orchardelc.com.au or call 0424 891 191. Our team is here to guide you through your options and help you prepare for the exciting changes ahead.