Maximising Your Child Care Entitlements
Navigating the cost of early childhood education in the ACT can feel overwhelming, but understanding your daily fees should not be stressful. Standard long day care program rates across Canberra typically range between $150 and $190 per day before government subsidies are applied.
At Coombs Early Learning, we believe in complete fee transparency with no hidden surprises. Your daily fee covers everything your child needs throughout the day, including freshly prepared meals and snacks, nappies, wipes, and sunscreen. By providing all daily essentials on-site, we help families in Coombs, Wright, and the broader Molonglo Valley keep daily out-of-pocket expenses predictable and stress-free.
ACT Free 3-Year-Old Preschool Program at Coombs
To support families with young children, the ACT Government provides up to 300 hours of free preschool per year for eligible 3-year-olds. (Want the full details? Read our complete guide on how the ACT 300 free hours of preschool works). Coombs Early Learning is an official registered partner provider for the ACT Government’s 3-Year-Old Preschool Initiative, allowing local families to access these savings directly through our centre.
The funding is passed on as a direct fee reduction on your invoice. Best of all, eligible families can stack the ACT Free 3-Year-Old Preschool savings on top of their federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Combining both funding options significantly reduces your daily out-of-pocket costs while delivering high-quality, inquiry-based early learning for your child.
How the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Works
The federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is paid directly to Coombs Early Learning by Services Australia to reduce your out-of-pocket fees. The percentage of your daily fee that the government covers is primarily based on your Combined Family Income.
The 2026 3-Day Guarantee: As of January 2026, the government has removed the standard Activity Test for most families. Now, all CCS-eligible Australian families automatically receive at least 3 days (72 hours per fortnight) of subsidised childcare per week, regardless of how much you work, study, or volunteer.
(Note: If your family requires up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight to cover a full 5-day week, Services Australia’s Activity Test will still apply to those additional hours).
