Commonwealth Prac Payment

The Australian Government will establish a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for students to help them manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum) as part of a higher education course

 

Get paid while completing your placement

If you're completing a mandatory course placement for your teaching, nursing, or social work degree, you may be eligible for a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP). 

The amount will be $331.65 per week during placements (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate), commencing 1 July 2025.

The payment is being introduced by the Australian Government to help ease cost-of-living pressures. By providing this support, the government aims to ensure students can complete their studies and enter the workforce – helping to address shortages in these important sectors. 

If eligible, you'll need to apply directly to Victoria University (VU) and supply supporting documents. 

We'll provide more information, including how and when to apply, closer to 1 July. 

Four female paramedicine students stand outside stalls at VU's 2024 Open Day.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
From July 2025, eligible students will be able to access $331.65 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate) while they’re undertaking a placement. The payment will be means-tested to target students who need it the most.

Proposed eligibility criteria

To be eligible, the government is proposing that you’ll need to be:

  • a domestic student
  • enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
  • enrolled in a higher education course in nursing and midwifery, teaching or social work
  • a nursing student undertaking a vocational education and training (VET) course and undertaking mandatory placements that are on average 30 hours or more per week for the duration of the placement.

You'll need to either be on a Commonwealth income support payment (for example ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance), or meet means test criteria based on:

  • a ‘need to work test’ where you show a need to work during normal studies by demonstrating you 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 commencing your placement, whichever is earlier
  • an individual income threshold set at earning not more than $1,500 per week (pre-tax) during the same period.

Exceptional circumstances

You may also be able to access the CPP if there are exceptional circumstances. You’ll still need to be enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible CPP course. 

Read more information about exceptional circumstances and other frequently asked questions.

How to apply

For higher education students, the Government is working with the higher education sector to introduce this new assistance payment, to be delivered through eligible higher education providers, such as VU.

For VET students, the Government will administer the payment through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). 

Program Guidelines will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including First Nations people to ensure the payment is accessible for eligible students.

Full details on the application process and requirements will be released on VU’s website once finalised. 

What happens next

We're currently working with the Australian Government to introduce the CPP. We'll update this page once arrangements have been finalised. 

Your college or school will reach out to you as 1 July approaches.