Vacation Care and CCS: Hours and Gap Fees
Child Care Subsidy can apply to school holiday vacation care, but only if the program is run by an approved child care service. The main trap is that full-day holiday sessions burn through subsidised hours much faster than normal before-school or after-school care.
This guide explains how vacation care works with CCS, why holiday gap fees can jump, and what to check before you book.
The short answer
CCS can apply to school holiday care if the program is run by an approved OSHC service. The main holiday traps are:
- Full-day vacation care uses more subsidised hours than short term-time OSHC sessions.
- Excursion days can sit well above the hourly cap.
- Your subsidised hours reset by CCS fortnight, not by week.
- Not every holiday program is CCS-approved.
- Absence days still matter.
Before booking, check the provider's fee, session length, CCS approval status and which CCS fortnight the care falls in.
What types of school holiday care attract CCS?
CCS can apply to school holiday vacation care provided by an approved OSHC service. That is usually the holiday program run by your school's OSHC provider, an approved outside school hours care service, or an approved vacation care provider.
CCS does not apply to every holiday activity. It usually does not apply to:
- sports clinics
- council pool programs
- arts workshops
- private tutoring programs
- holiday camps
- babysitters or nannies
Some of these programs may be excellent, but unless they are approved for CCS, you will pay the full fee yourself. Always ask: "Is this program CCS-approved?"
How hours work during school holidays
Your subsidised hours do not automatically increase during school holidays.
From 5 January 2026, CCS eligible families get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight under the 3 Day Guarantee. Families may access 100 hours per fortnight if they meet the recognised participation rules. See 72 vs 100 hours.
The issue is that vacation care sessions are longer.
During term, OSHC might be 1 hour before school and 3 hours after school. During holidays, vacation care might be 10 or 11 hours per day across a whole week. Holiday care can burn through your fortnightly hours quickly.
The big fortnight trap
CCS hours are counted per fortnight, not per week.
| Booking | Hours |
|---|---|
| Week 1: five 10-hour vacation care days | 50 hours |
| Week 2: five 10-hour vacation care days | 50 hours |
| Total in same CCS fortnight | 100 hours |
If your entitlement is 72 hours per fortnight, 28 hours may not be subsidised. If your entitlement is 100 hours per fortnight, the full 100 hours may be covered, subject to the fee and hourly cap.
This is why the same holiday booking can feel affordable for one family and very expensive for another. See CCS hours explained.
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The OSHC hourly cap during holidays
For 2025-26, the OSHC hourly cap for school-age children is $12.81 per hour. Your CCS percentage applies to the lower of the actual hourly fee and the OSHC hourly cap.
Vacation care can easily sit above the cap, especially where excursions or activities are included. See fees above the hourly cap.
Vacation care cost example
Say a vacation care day costs $180 for a 10-hour session.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Daily fee | $180.00 |
| Session length | 10 hours |
| Actual hourly fee | $18.00 |
| OSHC school-age cap | $12.81 |
| Fee above cap | $5.19 per hour |
The amount above the cap is not subsidised. That means $51.90 per day sits outside the CCS calculation before your normal gap is even considered. A family can have the same CCS percentage during holidays but pay a much higher gap.
Excursion days can change the gap
Many vacation care programs have different prices for different days.
| Day type | Fee | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Standard in-centre day | $95 | May sit under or close to the cap |
| Incursion day | $120 | Higher fee, but still manageable for some families |
| Excursion day | $170 | More likely to sit well above the cap |
A week with two excursion days can cost much more than a standard week, even with the same CCS percentage. Ask whether excursion costs are included in the session fee, charged separately, CCS eligible, or optional.
Do absence days apply during vacation care?
Yes. If your child is booked into an approved vacation care session and does not attend, CCS may still be paid if you have absence days available. Families generally receive a set number of allowable absence days per child each financial year. Holiday absences count just like term-time absences.
If your child is sick, away or no longer needs the care, tell the provider as early as possible and check their cancellation rules. See CCS absence rules.
What if your activity hours change during holidays?
From 5 January 2026, CCS eligible families still get at least 72 hours per fortnight under the 3 Day Guarantee.
If your recognised participation changes for an extended period, update your details in myGov. The practical issue for holidays is usually not a short period of leave. It is whether your booked vacation care hours exceed your 72 or 100-hour fortnightly entitlement.
What about preschool-age children during school holidays?
If your preschool-age child attends long day care during school holidays, CCS usually applies using the long day care rules, not the OSHC school-age vacation care rules. For 2025-26, the Centre Based Day Care cap for children below school age is $14.63 per hour. The school holidays themselves do not change the care type.
If your child is in a kindergarten or preschool program, ask the provider whether the care is CCS-approved and how holiday periods are charged.
Before you book vacation care
Ask the provider:
- Is the program CCS-approved?
- What is the daily fee?
- How many hours are charged per session?
- Are excursion or incursion costs included?
- Are there cancellation fees?
- Which days are more expensive?
- Which CCS fortnight do the sessions fall in?
- Will your booked hours exceed 72 or 100 hours?
- Will the provider report absences if your child cannot attend?
This is especially important if you are booking a full week or two full weeks.
What this means for you
Vacation care can be one of the most expensive weeks of your CCS year, even if your weekly term-time gap is comfortable. The combination of longer sessions, higher per-day fees and a hard fortnightly hours limit catches families out.
Run your booked sessions through CCSChecker before you confirm them, especially if the program includes excursion days or sits above the OSHC cap.
All figures are estimates based on current CCS settings and the inputs you provide. Final entitlement is determined by Services Australia.
Key takeaways
- Vacation care is CCS-eligible only when run by an approved OSHC service.
- The OSHC school-age cap is $12.81 per hour for 2025-26.
- CCS hours are counted per fortnight: two full vacation weeks can hit 100 hours fast.
- Excursion days often sit above the cap and add to your gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will CCS cover the full week of vacation care if I am on 72 hours?
Usually not if you book five 10-hour days every week. Two such weeks in the same CCS fortnight totals 100 hours, leaving roughly 28 hours unsubsidised. On 100 hours per fortnight, the full booking can be covered, subject to the fee and the cap.
Is a holiday camp CCS-approved?
Many holiday camps and activity programs are not approved for CCS. Always ask for the provider's CCS approval status before booking. If the program is not approved, you pay the full fee.
Why is my excursion day so much more expensive?
Excursion days usually have a higher per-day fee. If that fee divided by session length is above the $12.81 OSHC school-age cap, the excess sits outside CCS entirely. That is why excursion-heavy weeks can be much more expensive than standard weeks.
Do absence days apply during school holidays?
Yes. If your child is booked into an approved vacation care session and does not attend, CCS may still apply if you have absence days available. Tell the provider as early as possible and check their cancellation rules.
Does the 3 Day Guarantee cover full-time vacation care?
The 3 Day Guarantee floors your hours at 72 per fortnight, which is roughly three days a week. Five-day-a-week vacation care will exceed 72 hours over a fortnight if sessions are 8 hours or longer.
Official sources
- Services Australia — Child Care Subsidy
- Services Australia — Hours of subsidised child care
- Department of Education — Child Care Subsidy hourly rate caps
- Department of Education — 3 Day Guarantee