Childcare and Working From Home
Childcare while working from home is not a luxury; working from home is work. Child Care Subsidy treats it exactly like working in an office, and most parents find that a toddler and a video call do not mix. This guide covers the subsidy position, how to match care days to your workload, and how to keep hybrid weeks predictable for your child.
Many North Shore parents now work from home some or all of the week, and wonder whether it is fair, or even allowed, to use care on those days. It is. This guide explains why, and how to set up a week that works for everyone. Our other guides for parents cover costs, development and settling in.
WFH is work: the CCS position
For Child Care Subsidy, working from home is paid work, just like working in an office. Since 5 January 2026, every CCS-eligible family gets at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight, about three days a week, regardless of how much they work. Where each parent has more than 48 hours of recognised activity a fortnight, children can get up to 100 hours.
Your WFH hours count towards the 48 hours, exactly like office hours.
There is no rule against using care on days you work from home, because the subsidy depends on the hours you work, not where you work them.
Report your work hours accurately to Services Australia, whether at home or in an office.
The Department of Education explains the 3 Day Guarantee.
Subsidised hours
- All eligible
- 72 hrs a fortnight
- 48+ hrs activity
- 100 hrs a fortnight
- WFH
- Counts as work
Home work is workWhy toddlers and meetings do not mix
Toddlers need attention, conversation and play, often at exactly the moment a call starts. Trying to do focused work while caring for a young child usually means doing both badly: the child is parked in front of a screen, and the work is constantly interrupted. That is stressful for parents and not great for children either.
Young children cannot entertain themselves safely for long stretches.
Long screen time to cover work hours goes against Australian guidelines for under-fives.
Children notice when a parent is present but distracted, and often push harder for attention.
Using childcare while working from home gives your child a day built around them, and gives you the uninterrupted hours your job needs.
Babies can be easier to work around than toddlers, because they nap more and move less. The juggle usually gets harder, not easier, between about one and three.
Choosing days that match your meeting load
If you use care part time, choose care days to match your heaviest work days: the days with back-to-back meetings, deadlines or client calls. Lighter days, with flexible tasks, are easier to share with your child. Mark each weekday below as a heavy, medium or light work day to see a suggested pattern.
Your typical work week
The pickup buffer
One of the best things about working from home is a shorter trip to pick-up, but it is easy to work right up to the last minute and arrive frazzled. Building a 15 minute buffer between your last task and leaving helps you switch off from work and arrive ready to connect with your child.
Block out the buffer in your calendar so meetings cannot fill it. Colleagues quickly learn that you are unavailable from a set time, just as they would if you were catching a train.
Use the time to close your laptop, tidy, and have a glass of water.
Children often need your full attention at pick-up, especially after a big day.
We are open until 6:00pm on weekdays. Call (02) 7238 8668 if you are running late.
Guilt, addressed honestly
Many parents feel guilty sending a child to care when they are "home anyway". It helps to remember what your child gains: a full day of play, friends, educators focused on them, and a program designed for their age. Meanwhile you get to work properly, and your time together after care can be focused and relaxed.
Care days are not time away from your child. They are time well spent for both of you.
Children in good care benefit socially and developmentally.
A distracted day at home together is often harder on both of you than a care day.
If guilt persists, talk to other parents. You are far from alone, and many find the feeling fades once they see how much their child enjoys care days.
Your child gains
- Friends to play with
- Educators focused on them
- A planned program
- A relaxed parent after
No guilt neededMaking hybrid weeks predictable for your child
Young children cope best when they know what each day holds. If you are home but your child is at care some days, keep a clear, consistent pattern, and explain it simply. A visual weekly chart on the fridge, showing care days and home days, helps children understand the rhythm.
Try to keep the same care days each week, rather than changing them often. Swapping days around makes it harder for your child to predict the week and can unsettle drop-offs.
On home days when you still need to work, set up a quiet play space and plan work around nap time.
Avoid your child seeing you at home during a care day, which can be confusing. Go out for the drop-off and back in.
For flexible extra days, ask about casual and part-time days.
Working from home, answered
Does WFH count for the activity test? Yes+
Yes. Working from home is paid work, so it counts as recognised activity. The old activity test was replaced on 5 January 2026 by the 3 Day Guarantee, giving every eligible family at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight. Where each parent logs more than 48 hours of activity, WFH included, it rises to 100.
Is part-time care enough?+
For many WFH families, yes. Two or three care days on your busiest work days, with lighter tasks on home days, often works well. It depends on your job, your child's age and how much focused time you need. Start with what you can manage and adjust as you go.
Should WFH days be care days?+
If those days involve meetings or deep work, usually yes. Care means your child gets a full day of play and learning, and you can work without interruption. If a WFH day is light and flexible, it may suit time at home together. Match care days to your heaviest workload.
Ask about available days at our St Ives centre.
Focus days for you, fun days for them
Book a tour and ask which days are available.