What is a Complying Written Agreement (CWA) and when do I sign it?

Kate Sachdev Content Specialist

14 May 2026

If you’ve reached the enrolment stage, you’ve probably come across the term Complying Written Agreement (CWA) - and while it's very important, it can sound more complicated than it really is.

A CWA is the agreement between you and your childcare service that confirms your child’s care arrangements and it must be signed before Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can be applied. This guide walks you through what a CWA is, what’s included, when you sign it, and what to check before you do.

What a CWA is

Put simply, a Complying Written Agreement (CWA) is:

a formal agreement between your family and your childcare service
a requirement under Australian childcare subsidy rules
the document that confirms how your child’s care will work

Why it exists

The CWA ensures that:

families and services have a shared understanding of care arrangements
fees and bookings are clearly documented
CCS can be paid correctly

In simple terms: it’s the agreement that sets everything up properly.

When you sign the CWA

The timing is quite straightforward. You’ll usually sign the CWA:

after you accept a childcare offer
during the enrolment paperwork stage
before your child starts care

Most importantly: the CWA must be signed before CCS can be paid.

How it fits into the process

The typical order looks like this:

Accept childcare offer
Receive enrolment forms
Review and sign the CWA
Enrolment is confirmed
CCS is linked and applied

It sits right in the middle of the enrolment process.

What’s included in a CWA

This is often the part that feels most “official”, but it’s all very practical, really. You’ll usually see:

Days and hours of care
When your child will attend
Fees and fee structure
Daily rates, payment details, and any additional charges
Start date
When care begins
Notice periods
How much notice is required to:
- change days
- cancel enrolment
- make adjustments

What it’s not

A CWA isn’t:

designed to catch you out
a one-sided document
something you need to rush through

Everything should be explained clearly and you can always ask questions.

Do I need CCS sorted before signing the CWA?

No - and this is a really common misconception. You don’t need to:

have started your CCS claim
understand every detail of how it’s calculated
finalise your CCS claim before signing
have had your CCS claim approved

What actually happens

You sign the CWA first
Your enrolment is confirmed
Then CCS is linked and applied

Simple order: CWA first, CCS second.

What happens if the CWA isn’t signed?

This is where things can stall. If a CWA isn’t signed:

your enrolment isn’t fully active
delays can occur with billing and setup
CCS cannot be paid

You will receive reminder emails from Centrelink and service providers will usually follow up with families - it’s not something that slips through unnoticed.

What to check before signing

You don’t need to overthink it, but a quick review is worth it:

✔ Check your child’s booked days
Make sure they match what you agreed

✔ Review fees and inclusions
Understand what’s covered and what’s extra

✔ Look at notice periods
Often the most overlooked section

✔ Ask questions if needed
There’s no such thing as a silly question here

You’re not just signing a document - you’re confirming how childcare will work for your family.

How the CWA fits into the bigger picture

The CWA isn’t a standalone step. It connects:

your enrolment
your fees and care arrangements
your Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Once it’s signed, everything else can move forward smoothly.

Bringing it all together

It’s completely normal to feel unsure when you’re asked to sign something with a formal name like Complying Written Agreement. But in reality, it’s simply: