Fees & affordability

Preschool, made affordable

Between the Child Care Subsidy and NSW Start Strong funding, a day at Everlearn costs far less than most families expect. Here's how it works — and what you'd actually pay.

Two subsidies, working together for your family.

The Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy reduces your fees first; the NSW Government's Start Strong funding then reduces them further for children in the two years before school. Most Everlearn families are eligible for both — and they stack.

Australian Government

Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Income-tested · most families

Funded by the Australian Government, the CCS replaced the old Child Care Benefit and Rebate in 2018. It reduces out-of-pocket fees at approved services, with the amount based on your family income, activity level and your child's age.

NSW Government

Start Strong funding

Two years before school · not income-tested

NSW Start Strong adds a flat annual fee reduction for eligible 3–5 year-olds, applied after the CCS. It's available to all NSW families regardless of citizenship or residency, and doesn't affect your CCS entitlement.

Estimate your family's daily fee

Choose your child's age, your family income and the days they'll attend, and watch both subsidies come off in real time.

Which campus?

Your child's age on 31 July 2026

Start Strong eligibility is set by your child's age on 31 July 2026. Figures show the standard rate; some families — those in lower-SEIFA areas, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children, and concession-card holders — qualify for a higher maximum rate, which we confirm at enrolment.

Your family's combined income

$80,000 90% subsidy

$60k$300k$540k+

CCS is income-tested — up to 90% under $85,279, dropping 1% per $5,000, to 0% above ~$535,279.

Days per week

You pay, after subsidies

$50.28/day

Daily fee ~~$195.60~~ · you save $145.32 a day

Daily fee$195.60

Child Care Subsidy–$136.71

Start Strong funding–$8.61

Your daily fee$50.28

Per week

$251.40

Per fortnight

$502.80

Start Strong saves you ~$1,783 this year

Estimates only and subject to eligibility. CCS is calculated on a capped hourly rate ($15.19/hr, ~$151.90 over a 10-hour day) and assumes you meet the activity test for your chosen days. Start Strong is a flat annual amount ($1,783 standard / $2,563 maximum for 4–5s; $423 / $769 for 3-year-olds) spread across our 49 operating weeks. Confirm your own entitlement with Services Australia and our office.

Child Care Subsidy

Who's eligible for CCS?

To receive the Child Care Subsidy, families need to meet a few requirements.

Residency

You or your partner must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa, and reside in Australia. Some visa subclasses qualify under specific exemptions.

Child's age

Generally available for children 13 or younger who aren't at secondary school. Children aged 14–18 may still qualify in certain circumstances where an exemption applies.

Immunisation

Children must meet "No Jab, No Pay" requirements: up to date with the National Immunisation Program Schedule, on an approved catch-up schedule, or with a medical exemption.

Approved provider

The service must be approved by the Australian Government to administer the CCS. Everlearn is an approved service at both campuses.

Responsibility for fees

You must be liable for the child care fees, and generally care for the child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or hold 14% care responsibility.

Income & activity

Your subsidy percentage is set by combined family income; your subsidised hours are set by the lower earner's recognised activity. Both are explained below.

How much you receive

Your subsidy percentage by income

Your combined annual family income sets the percentage of CCS you receive. It's important to keep your estimate up to date with Centrelink through the year to avoid overpayments or debts.

Combined family income	CCS for your first child in care
Up to $85,279	Up to 90%
$85,279 – $535,279	Tapers down 1% per extra $5,000 of income
$535,279 and above	0%

Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care may receive a higher rate for younger children. Families earning under $533,280 may still receive some CCS depending on their circumstances.

Subsidised hours

How activity sets your hours

The number of subsidised hours you can access is set by the parent or carer with the lower level of recognised activity per fortnight.

Recognised activity (per fortnight)	Subsidised hours (per fortnight)
Less than 8 hours	0–24 hours *
8 to 16 hours	36 hours
More than 16 to 48 hours	72 hours
More than 48 hours	100 hours

* Families earning $85,279 or less can generally access 24 hours of subsidised care per fortnight even without meeting the activity test.

What counts as recognised activity

Paid work Self-employment Unpaid work in a family business Setting up a business Study or training Work experience / internships Volunteering Paid or unpaid leave Actively looking for work

In some circumstances, travel time between child care and a recognised activity may also count.

NSW Start Strong

Extra help in the years before school

Start Strong is the NSW Government's preschool fee-relief program. It's applied after your CCS, as a flat annual amount spread evenly across the year — and it's available to all NSW families regardless of citizenship or residency.

Child's age (on/before 31 July 2026)	Standard rate	Maximum rate
4 years and above — year before school	up to $1,783/yr	up to $2,563/yr
3 years — two years before school	up to $423/yr	up to $769/yr

The maximum rate applies for children in lower-SEIFA or regional/remote areas, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children, and families holding an eligible concession card. To claim, complete a Fee Relief Declaration & Consent form and nominate Everlearn as your one service.

A form must be completed for each eligible child

To receive Start Strong funding, a Fee Relief Declaration & Consent form must be completed for every eligible child and returned to our office. Without a completed form, we're unable to apply your fee relief.

Download the 2026 form (PDF)

Getting started

How to apply for the CCS

Applications are completed through your myGov account, linked to Centrelink.

Sign in to myGov

Visit the myGov website and log in, or create a myGov account if you don't have one.

Link Centrelink

Connect the Centrelink service to your myGov account.

Start a claim

Go to Payments and Claims → Claims → Make a Claim.

Choose Child Care Subsidy

Select the Families section and choose Child Care Subsidy, then complete and submit your application.

Confirm your enrolment

Once approved, confirm your child's enrolment details through your Centrelink online account before subsidy payments can begin.

Complete your Start Strong form

Complete a Fee Relief Declaration & Consent form for each eligible child and return it to our office. Download the 2026 form (PDF) or ask our office for a copy.

CCS & immunisation

Fully immunised per the National Immunisation Program Schedule,
on an approved catch-up schedule, or
holding an approved medical exemption.

Records are generally checked automatically through Medicare. If a child becomes overdue, families may keep receiving CCS during a short grace period while vaccinations are updated. If your child was vaccinated overseas, ask your Australian immunisation provider to transfer the records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).