The Commonwealth Prac Payment offers nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work students support while they’re undertaking mandatory placements.
About the program
As announced in the 2024-25 Budget the Australian Government is investing $427.7 million over four years from 2024–25 to establish the Commonwealth Prac Payment to support higher education and VET students while undertaking mandatory placements.
From 1 July 2025, eligible domestic students will be able to access $331.65 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) while they’re undertaking a mandatory placement in a Bachelor’s or Master’s of nursing, midwifery, teaching or social work degree or a Diploma of nursing. This will help students manage the costs associated with undertaking mandatory placements (also known as a practicum).
For students enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the relevant disciplines, the payment will be delivered through higher education providers delivering Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). The Government is working closely with the higher education sector to introduce this new assistance payment.
For students enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing at a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation the Government will administer the payment through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). More information about the VET CPP can be found on the DEWR website.
Student Eligibility – Bachelor's and Master’s students
The proposed eligibility criteria for the CPP are outlined below. Students must be:
a domestic student
enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a course of study that leads to entry-to-practice in teaching, social work, nursing or midwifery
Undertaking mandatory placements that are
Either
on average 30 hours or more per week for the duration of the placement
OR
known as a continuity of care placement, as part of a course of study in midwifery, which prevents the student from being able to maintain paid work due to the need to ensure their availability during the placement
AND EITHER
Be on a Commonwealth income support payment (for example ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance)
OR
Meet means-testing criteria based on:
a ‘need to work test’ where students show that they need to work during their normal studies by demonstrating they worked on average more than 15 hours a week either in the four weeks prior to applying for CPP or the four weeks prior to the student commencing their placement, whichever is earlier,
AND
an individual income threshold set at earning not more than $1,500 per week (pre-tax) during the same period.
Students may also be able to access the CPP if there are exceptional circumstances.
Have your say
The Department of Education (the department) is consulting on the proposed eligibility criteria and program settings for the CPP throughout March and April 2025.
If you would like to provide feedback on the proposed CPP, including its eligibility criteria or program settings, please email the department by 28 April 2025 at: commonwealthpracpayment@education.gov.au
Further Information
More information about the program can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
For questions about the program, please email commonwealthpracpayment@education.gov.au.
Program Announcements
2024
As announced in the 2024-25 Budget, $427.7 million over four years from 2024–25 (and an additional $1.2 billion from 2028–29 to 2034–35) is being invested to establish a new Commonwealth Prac Payment of $331.65 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) from 1 July 2025 for tertiary students undertaking supervised mandatory placements as part of their nursing (including midwifery), teaching or social work studies.
