A parent's guide to daily fees, the Child Care Subsidy, the 3 Day Guarantee, and what families in Melbourne's east and north-east can expect to pay.
Quick answer
Melbourne long day care fees generally range from around $120 to $200 or more per day before any subsidy, with the exact amount depending on the centre, the age group, and the suburb. Most families don't pay the full daily fee. The Child Care Subsidy covers up to 90 per cent of the cost (up to an hourly cap), and since January 2026 every eligible family gets at least three days of subsidised care a week under the 3 Day Guarantee. Families with a child in a funded kindergarten program also receive Free Kinder savings on top of CCS. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your family income, your centre's fees, and how many days your child attends.
How much should parents budget for childcare in 2027?
Childcare fees in 2027 will depend on three things: the daily rate your chosen centre charges, how much Child Care Subsidy (CCS) your family is eligible for, and how many days a week your child attends. There's no single answer that applies to every family, but understanding how these three factors interact makes it much easier to budget with confidence, whether you're comparing centres in Heidelberg, Ringwood, or elsewhere across Melbourne.
How much does childcare cost per day in Melbourne?
Across Melbourne, long day care fees typically sit somewhere between $120 and $200 or more per day, before any subsidy is applied. Where a centre falls in that range depends on location, the facilities and programs on offer, and the age group being cared for.
Nursery and infant rooms often sit toward the higher end of the range, largely because the National Quality Framework requires lower educator-to-child ratios for babies, meaning more staff per child.
Toddler rooms usually cost somewhat less than infant care, reflecting a slightly higher educator-to-child ratio.
Kindergarten-age rooms can vary depending on whether a funded kinder program is integrated into the day, since that portion of the fee may be offset separately through Free Kinder.
It's worth remembering that the advertised daily fee is rarely what an eligible family actually pays once CCS is applied. The sections below walk through how that gap is calculated.
Every centre sets its own fees, so the figures above are a general Melbourne guide rather than a quote. For exact daily rates at Nexus Early Learning Heidelberg or Ringwood, the friendly team at either centre can walk you through current fees for your child's age group.
How does the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) work in 2027?
The Child Care Subsidy is an Australian Government payment that reduces the cost of approved child care for eligible families. It isn't a lump sum, it's applied directly to your fees, so the amount you're invoiced is already reduced before you pay it.
Two main factors determine how much CCS your family receives. The first is your family's combined income. For 2026-27, families earning $88,520 or less receive the standard rate of up to 90 per cent, which then tapers down by 1 per cent for every $5,000 of income above that threshold, reducing to 0 per cent at $538,520. A second or younger child under five in care at the same time can receive an even higher rate. You can find current income thresholds and check your own estimate on the Services Australia Child Care Subsidy page.
The second factor is the hourly rate cap. For 2026-27, the Government's cap for centre-based day care is $15.19 per hour for a child below school age. Your subsidy is calculated on whichever is lower: your centre's actual hourly fee, or this cap. If your centre charges more than the cap, the difference above it isn't subsidised, so it's worth asking any centre you're considering where their fees sit relative to the cap.
What is the 3 Day Guarantee for childcare?
Since 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee has meant that every family eligible for CCS receives at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, roughly three days a week, regardless of work hours, study, or other activity. This replaced the previous activity test, which had limited subsidised hours for families who weren't meeting certain work or study requirements.
It's worth being clear about what this guarantee does and doesn't mean. It guarantees a minimum number of subsidised hours, not free care. Families still pay the gap between the subsidised amount and the centre's fee for those hours. Families who meet higher activity requirements, generally more than 48 hours of work, study, or similar activity per fortnight, may be eligible for up to 100 subsidised hours per fortnight instead, and First Nations children can access 100 hours automatically.
For the full detail on eligibility and how the guarantee interacts with your family's circumstances, the Department of Education's childcare subsidy page has current, official information.
How much will you actually pay for childcare?
The example below shows how a daily fee, a family's CCS rate, and the number of days attended come together to estimate an out-of-pocket cost. This is a hypothetical example only, built to illustrate how the calculation works, not a quote for any specific family or centre.
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| Daily Fee | $150 (10-hour session) |
| Family income | $120,000 |
| Estimated CCS rate | Approximately 83.7% |
| Days per Week | Weekly Fee | Estimated Weekly Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | $300 | Approximately $49 |
| 3 days | $450 | Approximately $73 |
| 5 days | $750 | Approximately $122 |
A family with a child in a funded kindergarten program may see this gap reduced further through Free Kinder, which is discussed below. Your own figures will depend on your actual family income, your chosen centre's fees, and your CCS eligibility.
For a personalised estimate using your own income and care arrangements, the StartingBlocks fee and subsidy estimator is a free, official government tool.
What is included in childcare fees?
What's covered by the daily fee varies from centre to centre, so it's always worth confirming inclusions directly before enrolling. Generally, Melbourne long day care fees include some combination of the following:
Meals and snacks across the day, prepared on-site or by an external caterer
Nappies and other daily essentials, though some centres ask families to supply their own
Educational programs and learning resources as part of the daily curriculum
Kindergarten and specialist programs, where a funded kinder program is integrated into the centre's day
At Nexus Early Learning Heidelberg and Ringwood, fees and inclusions are confirmed directly with families during enrolment, so there's never any guesswork about what's covered. If kindergarten funding applies to your child, this is explained clearly as part of that conversation. For general information on Free Kinder eligibility, the Victorian Government's Free Kinder page is the official source.
Looking for childcare in Heidelberg or Ringwood?
Nexus Early Learning Heidelberg and Nexus Early Learning Ringwood offer Montessori-based programs across infant, toddler, and kindergarten age groups, with CCS-approved care at both campuses. Every family's circumstances are different, which is exactly why our team takes the time to walk you through fees, availability, and funding options specific to your child.
Enquire Now
Ringwood Campus: 03 9022 6600 | ringwood@nexusel.com
Heidelberg Campus: 03 9738 9090 | heidelberg@nexusel.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does childcare cost per day in Melbourne in 2027?
Daily fees generally range from around $120 to $200 or more, depending on the centre, location, and age group. Infant rooms often sit toward the higher end due to lower educator-to-child ratios. Contact your chosen centre for exact daily rates.
Is childcare free for three days a week in Australia?
Not entirely free. The 3 Day Guarantee means every CCS-eligible family receives at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, but families still pay the gap between the subsidy and the centre's actual fee for those hours.
How much CCS can I receive in 2027?
Families earning $88,520 or less can receive up to 90 per cent of fees, tapering down by 1 per cent for every $5,000 of income above that, reducing to 0 per cent at $538,520. The subsidy is calculated on the lower of your centre's hourly fee or the government's hourly rate cap.
Is kindergarten free in Victoria in 2027?
Kindergarten is fully funded at participating standalone (sessional) kindergartens. At long day care centres with an integrated kinder program, Free Kinder applies as a fee offset on top of CCS rather than a fully free program, typically worth up to around $2,101 per child per year for a 15-hour program.
How do I find out my childcare fees in Heidelberg or Ringwood?
The team at Nexus Early Learning Heidelberg or Ringwood can confirm current fees for your child's age group directly. For a general estimate based on your own income, the official StartingBlocks CCS calculator is a useful starting point.
Information current as at November 2026. CCS rates, the 3 Day Guarantee, and Free Kinder funding are set by the Australian and Victorian Governments and may change. The worked example in this article is hypothetical and general in nature, not a quote. Always confirm current fees directly with your chosen centre and your own CCS entitlement via myGov or Services Australia.
