NSW Start Strong Fee Relief
The NSW Government's Start Strong funding helps cover the cost of Preschool for three- and four-year-old children attending childcare.
Eligible families can save up to $2,174 annually for four-year-olds and up to $515 annually for three-year-olds.
This fee relief is in addition to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) that many families already receive. And you don't need to be receiving CCS to claim this relief!
Who is eligible?
• Four-year-olds:
Children who turn four on or before 31 July of the calendar year and are enrolled at Jnr Explorers.
• Three-year-olds:
Children who turn three on or before 31 July of the calendar year and are enrolled at Jnr Explorers.
How does it work?
The Start Strong funding reduces your weekly gap fees over 52 weeks:
Up to $41.80 per week for eligible four-year-olds
Up to $9.90 per week for eligible three-year-olds
Families need to complete a simple declaration form and select Jnr Explorers as their eligible service to receive the fee relief. The savings will then be reflected in your fee statements.
3 Day Guarantee – Starting Jan 2026
The Australian Government is replacing the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test from January 2026 to guarantee at least 3 days of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) each week for children who need it.
How will this initiative work?
From January 2026, all families will be eligible for at least 72 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight (3 days per week), regardless of their activity levels.
Families can still get 100 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight if they meet activity requirements or have a valid exemption.
Families caring for a First Nations child will be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight.
Why is this important?
The 3 Day Guarantee will support universal access to ECEC and help ensure more children are school-ready. It will also provide targeted cost-of-living relief to families.
The Productivity Commission’s final report, A path to universal early childhood education and care (released September 2024), was clear that the children and families most likely to benefit from ECEC are the least likely to attend.
Who will benefit?
The 3 Day Guarantee will benefit all families through certainty around eligibility for subsidised ECEC.
In its first full financial year the 3 Day Guarantee will benefit around 66,700 families, and more than 100,000 families will be eligible for additional hours of subsidised care.
Families earning over $533,280 in 2024-25 are not eligible for subsidised care – consistent with current settings.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
What is the Child Care Subsidy?
Jnr Explorers is a registered childcare provider for the Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) program.
We're here to support your family in understanding your CCS entitlements and exploring enrolment options that best suit your needs. Our team can guide you through the process to help you maximise your subsidy, ensuring your child benefits from the rich learning experiences we offer.
How does CCS work?
The subsidy is paid directly to childcare providers like us and passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families then pay the difference between the full fee and the subsidised amount directly to the centre.
If you have any questions about Start Strong Fee Relief, CCS, or how to apply, please get in touch with our friendly team-we're here to help!
