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Child's Play ELC

How much will childcare cost?

With the Child Care Subsidy and 3-Day Guarantee, your out-of-pocket costs could be much lower than you think. We're here to help you understand your options.
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See your daily rate, before and after CCS

Pick your centre below. We'll show you the full-time daily fee, then what that becomes at three common CCS rates.

Centrelink holds back 5% of your CCS across the year and returns it at tax time. The figures above already use that effective rate, so they reflect what actually leaves your account day to day.

How does this apply for Kindergarten?

If your child is in our 3 or 4-Year-Old Kindergarten program, your Child Care Subsidy comes off first. The $2,101 Free Kinder offset is then applied on top, spread across the year, so it covers the rest of some days completely. Here's roughly how many days that adds up to at your centre.

Estimate only. Spreads the full $2,101 annual Free Kinder offset evenly across 52 weeks to get a weekly value, then applies it to what's left of your daily fee after CCS, day by day. Once it's covered a day in full, any leftover goes straight toward the next day, so even a day it can't fully cover still gets a lot cheaper.

Learn more about the subsidies you can apply for

Free Kinder

  • Government-approved kindergarten program
  • Eligible families may receive a Victorian Government offset of up to $2,101 per child, per year
  • Every Victorian child qualifies, no matter visa status or CCS eligibility
  • Stacks on top of your CCS, applied straight to your invoice
See how Free Kinder works →

The 3-Day Guarantee

  • At least 3 days a week (72 hours a fortnight) for every eligible family since Jan 2026
  • Up to 100 hours a fortnight for some families, exemptions apply
  • No work or study hours needed to qualify
Understand the 3-Day Guarantee →

Daily fee calculator

Every family's subsidy is different. Pop in your combined income and pick a centre, and we'll estimate your real daily cost.

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Higher second child rates apply when two or more of your children in care are aged 5 or under.

This is an estimate based on current CCS settings. Your actual rate depends on Centrelink's assessment of your income, activity and care days, we'll confirm your real numbers together before you enrol.

What's included at Child's Play?

We're a family-owned early learning centre providing high quality education and all-inclusive care. These are all included in your daily fee.

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Chef-cooked meals

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Nappies

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Sunscreen

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Kindergarten program

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5 incursions weekly

From our family to yours

As a family-owned business, we know how important it is to feel confident in where your child spends their day. We’re here to create a second home where children feel safe, happy and ready to learn. Come visit us, meet our team and see it for yourself.
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Frequently asked questions

It depends on your centre and your CCS rate, but most families pay somewhere between $13 and $39 a day once their subsidy is applied. Use the calculator above for an estimate based on your own income.

Yes. CCS is set up through myGov and depends on your income and activity. Free Kinder is automatic for eligible children in our kindergarten program and doesn't require a separate application or income test.

Yes. CCS is applied to your fees first, and the Free Kinder offset is applied on top, so many families pay considerably less than the standard daily rate on their child's kinder days.

Your CCS rate is based on your estimated annual income, so if your circumstances change, update your details through myGov as soon as possible. This keeps your subsidy accurate and avoids a surprise bill at tax time.

As early as you can, ideally before your enrolment date. CCS approval isn't instant, and a delay can hold up your discounted fee along with it. We see some families wait to enrol until their subsidy comes through, since without it you're paying the full daily rate in the meantime. Getting your application in early means you can enrol with confidence, rather than putting it off.

Our long day care includes the same government-approved kindergarten program as sessional kinder, plus care around it, up to 5 days a week if your family needs it. That's what makes us work for busy parents who need full-day coverage, while your child still gets the full kindergarten curriculum and more time for play-based learning, routine and friendships across the week.