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Commonwealth legislation
These are the Child Care Subsidy Minister's Rules 2017, which set out detailed rules for how the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) schemes operate.
What this legislation does:
Defines who can get child care subsidies — setting out eligibility rules for families, including special circumstances like children with disabilities, children at risk of abuse or neglect, families experiencing temporary financial hardship, and grandparents caring for grandchildren.
Sets rules for child care providers — including who can be approved to provide care, what safety and quality standards they must meet, and ongoing conditions they must satisfy (like working with children checks, insurance, and reporting requirements).
Determines how much subsidy families receive — including hourly rate caps that vary by service type (centre-based day care, outside school hours care, family day care, and in-home care), and how "recognised activities" (like work, study, or volunteering) affect the number of subsidised hours.
Covers special situations — such as absences from care, emergencies (including COVID-19 and natural disasters like Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred), and business continuity payments to help providers stay afloat during disruptions.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Child Care Subsidy Minister's Rules 2017.
Zoe has indexed the source text for search and analysis. Use the official register for the original document and download formats.
View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Includes transitional arrangements — managing the shift from older child care benefit systems to the current CCS framework.
Who it affects:
Why it matters: These rules determine whether families can afford child care and whether providers can operate — with significant detail on safety, quality, financial viability, and fairness in accessing subsidies.