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The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) hourly rate cap is increasing from 7 July 2025.
CCS rates are adjusted each July based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous December, resulting in an increase of the CCS family income thresholds and hourly rate caps. The new hourly rate cap takes effect from 7 July 2025, which is the start of the first CCS fortnight in the new financial year.
The new hourly rate cap for family day care is $13.56 for both below school age and school age children.
The full CCS rate changes are available to view here on the Department of Education website.
FDCA has long maintained that the lower CCS hourly rate cap for family day care, compared to centre-based care, is an inequitable market intervention that places the sector at a competitive disadvantage. It directly affects educators’ abilities to be appropriately remunerated, with flow on effects for affordability, educator attraction and retention and ultimately the viability of approved services.
Importantly, the points we have made on the rate cap issue have been reflected in the findings of recent national reviews into the Early Childhood Education and Care sector by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission and the Productivity Commission, with the latter making the following key recommendation as a result:
“The Australian Government should review the hourly rate caps for family day care and in home care to determine the levels they should be set at to better reflect operating costs and support affordability, while maintaining integrity.”
(Recommendation 6.3, Final Report – A path to universal early childhood education and care)
FDCA continues, on behalf of our members, to advocate strongly on this point in our submissions, election commitment requests, and ongoing engagement with key decision-makers in Government, including relevant Ministers to safeguard the future viability and sustainability of the sector.
Don't miss your final chance to place a nomination in the 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards! Nominations will officially close at midnight on Thursday, 12 June 2025.
If you know an educator, coordinator or service who deserves recognition for the outstanding work they do, click here or on the button below to submit your nomination before it's too late.
To place your nomination, click here.
You can help to support the sector by promoting the Awards on social media and encouraging your network to nominate.
Whether you repost from the FDCA Facebook page or create your own content, your voice helps us reach more people and celebrate the inspiring work happening across our community.
Click here to visit the FDCA Facebook page and share our latest post.
The final round of nominations will be published during the week of 16 June 2025.
Families enrolled in your service can get CCS when their child is absent from a session of care they would normally attend, for up to 42 days per child, each financial year.
In shared care arrangements, the allowable absences count is allocated to the child, not to each individual parent.
Once families have used all 42 allowable absences, they will be required to pay the full childcare fee. However, families may be able to get additional absences once they have used their allowable absence days, in certain circumstances.
Additional absences may be approved in the following circumstances:
Please note: Public holidays do not count as an additional absence reason.
Check with your service on what supporting evidence or documentation is required when applying for additional absences.
You can find more information on managing absences on the Department of Education website.
Time is running out to secure your exclusive FDCA member early-bird pricing for the FDCA 2025 National Conference, with the early-bird discount ending on 30 June 2025. This is your chance to secure your spot at a reduced rate and join fellow family day care professionals, sector experts and industry leaders at the must-attend family day care event for 2025.
Don't wait, only a limited number of full registration tickets are available.
You can secure your early-bird ticket via single payment or 4-monthly instalments, by clicking here.
Instalment option still available to members
As an FDCA member, you have exclusive access to a 4-month instalment plan for full conference registration. That means you can secure your ticket now without needing to pay the full amount upfront.
But be quick, the instalment ticket option will close at the end of this month.
Educators are invited to participate in a new study being conducted by researchers at Deakin University. The goal of the research is to learn more about family day care educators’ sense of belonging to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) profession.
With a lack of national studies related specifically to family day care, educators are often largely unrepresented when policy decisions are being considered relating to national workforce initiatives.
The Deakin University study is designed to address this issue by understanding how family day care educators feel a sense of belonging within the ECEC workforce.
Share your story by clicking here.
Who can participate?
All early childhood educators working in a family day care setting in Australia are eligible to take part in the survey.
Why take part in the survey?
What’s involved?
If you have any questions regarding this research project, please contact Andrea Nolan at a.nolan@deakin.edu.au.
FDCA is pleased to announce that our new Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks (NCCHC) service is now available at www.fdcachecks.com.au.
We are also excited to be able to continue to offer an exclusive FDCA members-only discounted price of $41.50! Making our NCCHC Australia’s easiest and best-value check for the family day care sector.
To access your exclusive member discount, click here.
Educator members can access their exclusive discounted rate up to 4 discounted checks per year to use for themselves and/or for adults residing in their homes that may require a check. Services receive up to 20 discounted checks per year to use for service management, staff, educators and/or for adults residing in an educator's home.
As your national peak body, we have been supplying Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) accredited NCCHC’s since 2018 and have supported more than 5,000 members with combined savings of over $50,000.
We are pleased to announce that FDCA will be hosting a live Tax Webinar for members on Thursday, 26 June at 6:30pm AEST.
Special guest, Ben Mueller, Director and Principal Accountant at FDC Tax will address member questions, provide tax tips and discuss a wide range of tax-related topics.
It’s essential that all small business operators understand their tax responsibilities to ensure compliance, maximise entitlements, and support the financial sustainability of their business. Staying informed about current tax requirements and opportunities is a key part of running a successful and sustainable business. Which means this is a webinar not to be missed!
Where can I watch?
The webinar will be streamed live across a variety of FDCA's channels, including our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. The links to the webinar on each of these are listed below:
Submit your questions in advance!
FDCA members are invited to submit questions prior to the webinar for Ben to answer on the night.
To submit your question, simply click here.
Watch on demand
If you can’t watch the webinar live, don’t worry! A recording will be available via the FDCA Member Zone afterwards.
To access your FDCA Member Zone, click here.
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