The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) will be expanded from 1 July 2027 to eligible students undertaking mandatory placements in 10 frontline allied health disciplines. These disciplines are in priority areas of national skill shortage.
Students training to become frontline allied health professionals will receive greater support while completing the practical placements essential to their careers.
The CPP provides eligible students with weekly financial support while they undertake mandatory placements as part of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
The expansion builds on the existing CPP program for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students. From 1 July 2027, eligibility will include 10 additional frontline health disciplines, including:
• clinical psychology
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• speech pathology
• paramedicine
• radiography
• pharmacy
• rehabilitation therapies
• audiology
• podiatry
With the addition of these new disciplines, the program is expected to support around 95,000 students each year, including around 21,000 additional higher education students in frontline allied health courses.
The expansion of the payment will help more students spend less time worrying about finances and more time focusing on their placements.
An RMIT student said the payment had made a significant difference during placement:
These payments mean I don't have to work during placement so I can focus fully on my studies and have the time to decompress after placement. I’m a better student and practitioner because of it. Previously, I’ve had to work part-time alongside placement while also completing a full study load, this led to burnout and my studies definitely suffered. I know people who’ve experienced serious impacts on their personal lives because of the pressure of trying to balance placement, studies, work, and life”.
To find out how to apply, visit: Commonwealth Prac Payment.