The 3 Day Guarantee: How It Transforms Childcare in Durack

From 5 January 2026, Brisbane families will see a major change in how childcare subsidies work. The new 3 Day Guarantee Durack ensures all eligible families receive at least three days of subsidised childcare every week, no matter their work hours. This means more stability and less stress when arranging early learning for your child. Let’s explore what this change means for your family and how to make the most of it.

Understanding the 3 Day Guarantee

Photo created by AI. The 3 Day Guarantee marks a big shift in how Brisbane families access early learning. This policy creates a stable foundation for children and parents alike, making quality childcare more available to everyone.

What This Means for Your Family

The 3 Day Guarantee gives your family access to 72 hours of subsidised care every fortnight – that’s three full days each week. The best part? These hours are yours regardless of how much you work, study, or volunteer.

Before this change, many families got fewer subsidised hours based on their work status. If you worked part-time or stayed home with your child, you might have only qualified for 24 hours per fortnight or even none at all.

Now, three days are guaranteed for every eligible family. This means your child can enjoy consistent early learning experiences while you gain more flexibility for work, study, or other commitments.

For families already getting more than 72 hours of subsidised care, don’t worry – your current entitlement stays the same. This change only lifts families who were getting less than three days of support.

How It Benefits Durack Families

Durack families will see real, practical benefits from the 3 Day Guarantee. Many local parents have shared their struggles with the current system, which often leaves them in tough spots when work hours change.

Take Sarah, a Durack mom who works casual shifts at a local business. Her hours change weekly, making it hard to maintain a stable childcare routine. With the 3 Day Guarantee, her daughter can attend Little Big People three times a day each week, creating a steady routine that benefits everyone.

For children, this stability is priceless. Kids thrive on routine, and coming to the same early learning centre on the same days helps them build stronger bonds with educators and friends. They can join in ongoing projects and follow through with learning experiences from day to day.

Parents gain peace of mind knowing their childcare arrangements won’t fall apart if their work situation changes. This security is especially valuable for small business owners, freelancers, and families with variable incomes in our community.

Navigating the Child Care Subsidy Changes

Photo created by AI. The shift to the 3 Day Guarantee brings welcome relief to many families struggling with the current system. Understanding how these changes work will help you plan your childcare arrangements with confidence.

Who Stands to Gain the Most

Families with limited or changing work patterns will see the biggest benefits from this new policy. If you fall into one of these groups, the 3 Day Guarantee could be a game-changer for your family:

Stay-at-home parents who want their child to enjoy the social and educational benefits of early learning can now access three days of subsidised care. This gives your child valuable learning time while giving you a break to handle other family needs.

Casual workers with changing schedules no longer have to worry about losing subsidy hours when work slows down. Your three days are locked in, making budgeting and planning much easier.

Parents between jobs keep their childcare spot while job hunting. This means your child maintains their routine and connections while you focus on finding new work without the stress of losing childcare.

Single parents working part-time often struggle the most under the current system. The guarantee gives these families a solid foundation of support, making quality early learning more affordable.

Small business owners and self-employed parents with fluctuating income patterns gain stability for their children while they manage the ups and downs of running a business.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Benefits

Families caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children receive even stronger support under these changes. These families get 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight—almost five full days each week.

This higher level of support recognises the importance of early education for First Nations children and helps close the gap in educational outcomes. The extra hours give children more time to build skills, make friends, and prepare for school success.

To access this benefit, you simply need to let Services Australia know you’re caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child. You can update this information through your Centrelink account on myGov at any time.

The process is straightforward, with no extra paperwork needed beyond noting this information in your account. Once updated, the system automatically applies the higher entitlement to your subsidy.

Making the Most of Your Subsidy

With the 3 Day Guarantee coming into effect soon, now is the perfect time to think about how to make the most of these changes for your family. Simple planning steps can help you maximise the benefits.

Steps for Current and New Applicants

If you already receive Child Care Subsidy, you don’t need to do anything to get the 3 Day Guarantee. Services Australia will automatically update your entitlement on January 5, 2026, based on your existing information.

For families new to the subsidy system, the application process remains the same. You’ll need to:

1. Create or log in to your myGov account

2. Link to Centrelink if you haven’t already

3. Complete the Child Care Subsidy application

4. Provide your income estimate and family details

The good news? The process is being simplified from January 2026, making it easier for new families to access support.

If you want to check your current entitlement before the changes take effect, log in to your Centrelink account through myGov. This will show you how many hours you currently receive and help you plan for any increase coming your way.

For families wanting to change their booking days at Little Big People, we recommend contacting us soon. Many Durack families will likely want to add days once the 3 Day Guarantee starts, so securing your preferred schedule early is wise.

Managing Gap Fees and Booking Days

While the 3 Day Guarantee increases your subsidised hours, it’s important to understand that gap fees still apply. Your subsidy percentage, which is based on your family income, remains the same.

Here’s what this means in practice: If you currently pay a gap fee for one day of care, you’ll pay that same gap fee for each of your three guaranteed days. The key difference is that you’re no longer paying full price for days that weren’t previously covered by subsidy.

Let’s look at a simple example:

Before the 3 Day Guarantee:

• Your child attends two days per week

• Only one day is subsidised (you pay the gap fee)

• For the second day, you pay full price

• Total cost: High

After the 3 Day Guarantee:

• Your child attends three days per week

• All three days are subsidised (you pay the gap fee for each)

• Total cost: Lower per day, slightly higher overall, but with 50% more care

When booking days, consider which schedule works best for your family’s routine. Consistent days each week help your child build stronger connections with educators and friends.

If you need help calculating how these changes affect your budget, our team at Little Big People is happy to sit down with you and work through the numbers based on your specific situation.

Contact Little Big People Early Learning Centre

Ready to discuss how the 3 Day Guarantee affects your family?

Little Big People Early Learning Centre
56 Durella Street, Durack, QLD 4077
Phone: 07 2111 4187
Website: https://www.littlebigpeople.com.au/contact/

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am-6:00pm

Give us a call, send an email, or drop in for a chat. We’re here to help Durack families make the most of these changes and access quality early learning for their children.

Official Resources

Services Australia – Child Care Subsidy Changes
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy-ccs-changes
Check your personal entitlement and update your details

Australian Government Department of Education – 3 Day Guarantee
https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/providers/child-care-subsidy/3-day-guarantee
Official policy information and implementation details

Starting Blocks – 3 Day Guarantee Information
https://startingblocks.gov.au/resources/what-to-expect/3-day-guarantee-changes-to-child-care-subsidy-ccs
Parent-friendly explanation of how changes work