Applications open for Commonwealth Prac Payment

If you’re studying a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work, you may be eligible for the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP).

It is a payment of $331.65 per week to help you with living costs while you’re undertaking a mandatory placement.

Applications open from 1 July 2025.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the payment, you must meet the following criteria:

  • be a domestic student enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) undertaking either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work at a higher education provider, or be a Vocational Education and Training (VET) student undertaking a Diploma of Nursing course
  • be completing a mandatory placement required for professional accreditation, averaging 30 or more hours per week during your placement

OR

  • be completing a mandatory placement required for professional accreditation known as a continuity of care placement, as part of a course of study in midwifery, which prevents you from being able to maintain paid work due to the need to ensure your availability during your placement  

AND

  • be on an Australian Government income support payment (e.g. Austudy, Youth Allowance, Disability Support Payment, DVA Education Allowance) or ABSTUDY·        

OR

  • provide evidence of working on average 15+ hours per week over a 4‑week period during your normal study (outside placement), with an individual income threshold of $1,500 per week (before tax) during the same period.

How to apply

To apply, complete the application form.* If you have questions regarding your application, talk to your higher education provider.

Reporting obligations

If your application is successful and you currently receive an income support payment from Services Australia, you must tell them you’re going to get the CPP. You should do this as soon as you know the dates of your prac placement. Learn about when and how to report on the Services Australia website.

If you receive an income support payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), you need to report CPP. Find out more about reporting CPP on the DVA website.

The Australian Taxation Office will also require you to report your CPP payments as income on your relevant tax return. Further information on reporting CPP as income is available on the ATO website.

More information

To find out more about the Commonwealth Prac Payment, visit the Department of Education website.

Last modified: Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 3:09 PM