Frequently Asked Questions

Read our Frequently Asked Questions to find out more about the Commonwealth Prac Payment.

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You apply for the CPP through your higher education provider. Providers are progressively opening applications. Your provider will provide you with information on how and when to apply.

Eligible students will receive a weekly amount that is benchmarked to the single Austudy rate. In 2025, this will be $331.65.

The amount will be automatically indexed to align with the single Austudy rate, effective from 1 January each year.

The payment is targeted to those most at risk of placement poverty. The proposed eligibility criteria are designed to focus on students who typically face the greatest financial pressure during mandatory practical placements due to their reduced capacity to undertake paid work. It is an education and training payment designed to give people a bit of extra help to get the qualifications they need.

Students enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s course that leads to professional accreditation as a nurse, midwife, teacher, or social worker, or a Diploma course to become a nurse will be eligible for the CPP, subject to meeting other eligibility criteria.

For students enrolled in a Bachelor’s of Master’s degree in the relevant disciplines the CPP will be delivered through their higher education provider. This means students will apply and be paid through their higher education provider.

For students enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing at a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the CPP will be delivered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Please visit the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website for further information.

If a placement begins before 1 July 2025, students may still qualify for the payment for the week starting 30 June 2025—provided they complete at least 30 hours of placement during that week (from 1 July onward) and meet all other eligibility criteria.

Example: 3 week placement from 23 June to 13 July 2025 (Monday to Sunday)

  • 23–29 June: Hours completed during this period do not count toward CPP eligibility.
  • 30 June –6 July: If at least 30 hours are completed from Tuesday 1 July to Sunday 6 July during this week, the student may be eligible for CPP (hours completed on 30 June do not count)
  • 7–13 July: If at least 30 hours are completed during this week, the student may be eligible for CPP.

International students are not eligible for the CPP.

The Australian Government supports students to undertake higher education by funding public universities and a small number of private higher education providers to offer Commonwealth supported places (CSPs).

For more information, please visit Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) - Study Assist, Australian Government

Yes, part-time students are eligible for CPP.

To be eligible to receive CPP, you must be undertaking your placement at an average of 30 hours or more per week to be eligible for CPP, or be a midwifery student undertaking a continuity of care placement which prevents you from being able to maintain paid work.

A list of eligible Income Support Payments and allowances is available on the Services Australia website. For more information visit Income support payment - Managing your money - Services Australia.

The ABSTUDY Living Allowance and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Age Pension, Income Support Supplement, Service Pension, Veterans Payment and Education Allowance are also eligible income support payments.
  
Students who are not receiving an income support payment as outlined above must satisfy the Need to Work Test and Income Test.

The Need to Work Test and Income Test assesses your individual work and income, not your partner’s or your guardian’s. To meet the Need to Work Test and Income Test, you must be able to provide evidence that you:

  • work, on average, 15 hours or more per week in either the four-week study period prior to applying for CPP or the four-week study period prior to you commencing your placement, whichever is earlier.
  • do not earn more than $1,500 per week (pre-tax) during the same period, including income from State, Territory or Commonwealth scholarships during the same period.

Exceptional circumstances are circumstances which are outside of your control (such as a disability) and/or temporary, uncommon, irregular or unusual events (such as a short-term illness) that impacts you or someone you have a significant relationship with, and impacts your ability to meet one or more of the eligibility requirements to receive CPP.

These may include:

  • a disability that affects your capacity to meet the eligibility requirements; and
  • medical condition or health-related issue;
  • an acute personal or family life event

If you believe exceptional circumstances apply to your situation, contact your higher education provider as soon as possible to discuss the application process, and required evidence.

The CPP is taxable as income. All students, in receipt of CPP, will be responsible for ensuring they comply with their tax liabilities and reporting obligations with the Australian Taxation Office. For more information, visit Government payments and allowances.

Students in receipt of Income Support Payments will be responsible for reporting their CPP payments to Services Australia or the Department of Veterans Affairs, consistent with their existing obligation to report other forms of income and financial assistance.

For more information on reporting Centrelink income support payments, visit Income from Commonwealth Prac Payment.

For more information on reporting DVA payments, visit What you need to tell us about.

A change in circumstances may impact your eligibility for CPP. You are required to notify your higher education provider as soon as possible regarding any change that may impact your eligibility for CPP.