AUSTRALIA | Nursing and TAFE students are now able to study with financial assistance from the Commonwealth Prac Payment programme.
From 1 July, 2025, nursing and midwifery students across Australia can apply for the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP), to assist them with much-needed financial support while undertaking their mandatory clinical training.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) was instrumental in advocating for the Commonwealth Prac Payment, to help eligible students experiencing ‘placement poverty’, struggling to manage the significant financial burden associated with completing their clinical placements, including the loss of regular income and out-of-pocket costs.
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler welcomed the introduction of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme as a ‘positive first step’ in financially supporting nursing and midwifery students, but argued there should be broader eligibility criteria for all students needing to access the payment.
“In a cost of living crisis, placement poverty has been a significant issue for students who lose their income from regular paid jobs while they’re undertaking their training and then have to pay for a whole range of everyday costs,” Butler explained.
“This financial burden has resulted in growing numbers of students failing to complete their qualifications and walking away from the profession.
“While we welcome the start of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme today, we know we need to do more to support nursing and midwifery students through their studies to ensure they have ongoing access to quality education programs, quality clinical placements and training, and sufficient financial assistance to address the increasing challenges they face.”
Under the CPP, benchmarked to the single Austudy rate, eligible students will receive AUD 331.65 a week.
TAFE nursing students can also now apply for the new ‘Commonwealth Prac Payment’ aimed to provide financial support while undertaking mandatory clinical placements.
“When I’ve travelled around the country and met with nursing students, the cost of prac placements has been a concern and at times a deterrent," said Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles at Bendigo TAFE on Monday, where he met with students undertaking a Diploma of Nursing.
“The financial support would help students, by easing cost-of-living pressures during mandatory prac periods, said Minister Giles.
“The payment can be used to support students who have extra costs such as uniforms, travel, temporary accommodation or childcare, during their clinical placements.”
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