Fees & Funding
The Australian government subsidises child care fees. In most cases, the daily fee is not the amount you will pay for your child/ren to attend child care. If you are eligible, you are only required to pay the “gap” fee, that is the difference between the daily fee that is charged by the centre and the amount the government will subsidise your fees. Each family is assessed individually.
Child care centre daily fee – government subsidy = the cost for your child to attend child care.
Sound confusing? It certainly can be. This page will help you get a better understanding of how the system works.
We’ve also included the Choklits Child Care Subsidy Calculator so you can get a close estimate of how much it will cost you to attend Choklits.
When you register for any information (i.e. newsletter subscription, login details or complete a form) with us for any services offered on choklits.com.au, we’ll ask you to provide company and/or personal information.
What Determines My Families Subsidy?
The amount of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) a family can get depends on their circumstances.
Services Australia looks at the following items to determine your CCS entitlement:
- a family’s income
- how many children a family has in their care
- the age of the children in their care
- whether the child identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- a family’s participation level
- the type of care a family uses.
If you meet the CCS Entitlement requirements you automatically qualify for the 3 Day Guarantee.
The 3 Day Guarantee
Put simply, the 3 Day Guarantee is a promise from the government that all families who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can get at least three days of subsidised care per week (or 72 hours a fortnight).
The best part is, this is for every eligible family, no matter how many hours you work, study, or volunteer. It removes the old ‘activity test’ for the first three days, making it much simpler for families to access the benefits of quality early learning and care.
To calculate your family’s subsidy and entitlements, click here.
How Do I Calculate And Report My Income?
Unfortunately, calculating your exact subsidy entitlements can be a little confusing.
Prior to beginning care, you will need to complete a Child Care Subsidy assessment and apply for the subsidy via myGov. During this process, families will be asked to provide their estimated combined family income and their activity details. The government will communicate with you through myGov for all Child Care Subsidy matters.
Your subsidy percentage will be based on your estimated combined annual family income. Your actual subsidy entitlement will be worked out at the end of year reconciliation when your actual adjusted taxable income is known (after you have lodged your tax return).
The easiest way to estimate your income is to base it on your previous year’s tax return as well as any expected pay rises.
Note: 5% of your weekly Child Care Subsidy entitlement will be withheld by the government. Following reconciliation of your tax return at the end of the financial year, any amount owing to you will be paid as a lump sum by the government. If you have been paid too much Child Care Subsidy, you will have a debt to repay.
If you require information urgently, please call our centre or visit myGov.
Please also note: if your child is not immunised they will not qualify for any rebate or financial assistance under these schemes unless they have a valid exemption.
When you have registered at myGov, call Choklits, we will run through the entire system, explain how everything works, give you an estimated cost and alert you of other things you need to know moving forward.
If you’d like to estimate your own subsidy now using our child care subsidy calculator, head to choklits.com.au/calculator
Funded Kindergarten Programs
Choklits Services have funded three-year-old and funded four-year-old kindergarten programs which all carry the important “Kinder Tick” identifier. You can be assured that services that have the government awarded Kinder Tick operate a kindergarten program led by qualified teachers, the program delivered is play-based and the program is funded by the Victorian Government.
To learn more about kindergarten, how to choose a kindergarten program and the Choklits Kindergarten difference, head to choklits.com.au/kindergarten.
Note: many kindergartens are only open for limited hours and close periodically throughout the year. We operate from Monday to Friday and are open 52 weeks of the year including all school holidays to help cater for all family and work situations. More information can be found at choklits.com.au/kindergarten
What We Provide
Choklits has operated with an all-inclusive fee model for over a decade. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to be part of everything we do, and the common practice of excluding individual children from activities when families cannot pay extra is wrong.
Everything we provide is included, so you will not be charged for anything in addition to the simple daily fee. This includes all incursions, excursions, additional programs and learning experiences of which we facilitated over 600 in 2025 alone.
All the additional programs we facilitate at Choklits are detailed on our CHOKLITS+ page.
The Choklits daily fee also includes bedding, nappies, all meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks), a welcome pack which includes a Choklits sun hat when your child joins the centre and a Christmas present as part of our end of year celebrations along with daily updates on your child’s day via our communication app which includes information on everything from meals and nappy changes to experiences and excursions.
We have some super talented team members at Choklits so you will also receive a physical copy of one of children’s story books authored by our team.
Included Programmes
No hidden fees, no extras—just exceptional experiences included in your daily fee
(Every Monday) Mindfulness and movement for developing bodies and minds
(Every Wednesday) Professional music lessons fostering creativity and rhythm
(Every Friday) Building coordination, teamwork, and physical confidence
(Every Week) Exploring our community and learning beyond our walls
(Weekly) Introducing children to diverse languages and cultures
(Daily) Nutrition Australia-approved meals, nappies, and consumables
(Regular scheduled visits) Early developmental screening, expert guidance, and timely family support
(Regular Centre Visits) Trusted health checks, wellbeing support, and family guidance
(Every week) Fun, high-energy movement building strength and physical confidence
(Every week) Hands-on kitchen learning building life skills and food confidence
(Every week) Sensory-rich play igniting imagination and fine motor development
(Every week) Discipline, respect, and confidence through expert-led judo
(Every week) Nature immersion building resilience, curiosity, and environmental connection
(Regular excursions) Fostering a love of reading and community through books and storytelling
What Parents Ask Us Most About Child Care Fees & Enrolment
Everything you need to know about fees and enrolment at Choklits
How do I enrol my child at Choklits?
The best first step is to book a tour or make an enquiry. Our team will get to know your child, talk with you about your care needs, explain our rooms and programs, and help you understand the next steps. We keep enrolment calm, clear and simple from the start.
Can I book a tour before I enrol?
Yes. We welcome tours at Choklits. A tour gives you time to see our rooms, meet our team, view the play spaces, and ask questions about care, kinder, fees and settling in. It is the best way to feel sure before you enrol.
What ages do Choklits centres care for?
Choklits cares for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. We offer nursery care, toddler rooms, pre-kinder, Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten across our Ringwood, Surrey Hills and Croydon centres.
What is included in the Choklits daily fee?
Our daily fee includes much more than care. Meals, nappies, sunscreen, bedding, daily supplies, incursions, excursions and CHOKLITS+ programs are included. Children can join music, yoga, sport, messy play, cooking, language, library visits and bush kinder without extra program fees.
Can Choklits help me understand Child Care Subsidy?
Yes. Child Care Subsidy can feel hard to understand, but our team can help explain the basics. Most families may be able to reduce their out-of-pocket cost through Child Care Subsidy, depending on their family income, activity and care needs.
Do you offer funded kindergarten?
Yes. Choklits offers Victorian Government-funded Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten. Our kinder programs are led by qualified teachers, are play-based, and are built into our long day care program.
How will you help my child settle in?
We take time to learn about your child and your family. Our team supports your child with warm care, steady routines and familiar faces. We work with you before and after the first day so your child can feel safe, known and ready to join in.
Which Choklits centre should I choose?
You can choose the Choklits centre that works best for your family. We have centres in Ringwood, Surrey Hills and Croydon, and each centre offers warm care, early learning, funded kinder and all-inclusive programs.
What do I need before my child starts?
Before your child starts, we will guide you through the enrolment forms, care details and any health or routine needs. You should also complete your Child Care Subsidy assessment through myGov if you want to claim subsidy. This part can be a little complicated but we’ve helped thousands of families through it and are here for you too!
What happens after I send an enquiry?
After you send an enquiry, our team will contact you to learn more about your child and your care needs. We can help you book a tour, check room availability, talk through fees and guide you through enrolment.
