- Student’s placement ordeal highlights urgent need to expand Commonwealth Prac Payment to medicine, allied health and veterinary courses
Charles Sturt University is calling for a expansion of the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) scheme, warning that the current arrangements create a two-teir system where some students are supported to complete compulsory placements while others are left to absorb the full cost.
Currently, the CPP scheme assists students in nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work courses with a payment of of $338.60 per week while they are completing their placements, which are a requirement for professional accreditation.
A petition created by Members of Parliament Helen Haines and Monique Ryan, and Senator David Pocock, which is backed by a growing coalition of students and workforce leaders, is calling for the CPP to be extended to include allied health and medicine degrees.
Charles Sturt supports this push and would also like to see the scheme extended to include students in veterinary sciences.
Placement poverty is an issue for students at all Australian universities. But it disproportionately impacts regional students given their need to relocate for placements.
The travel and costs faced by Charles Sturt third-year Medical Radiation Science student Audrey Keillor, from Queanbeyan and studying full-time in Wagga Wagga, highlights the struggles faced by many regional students.
Audrey had to travel more than 2,500 kilometres to complete a four-week placement at Caboolture in Queensland because there were no options closer to home.
With a further 44 weeks of practical placements required before graduation, Audrey is concerned that the expense could prove too much for her to complete her course.
“Finishing these placements has greatly affected me financially,” Audrey said.
“Because placements are unpaid, I work every hour I can when I’m not on placement just to cover rent and food. After some placements, my bank account has been so low I’ve had to choose between groceries and keeping a roof over my head.”
“I recognise the significance of placements for my career growth, but the financial pressure has certainly impacted my wellbeing and my capacity to concentrate completely on my studies and personal relationships.”
Audrey said the pressure of having to travel so far for placements and forego paid work was affecting not only her finances, but also her health and wellbeing.
“I often have no time to rest. I’m juggling multiple casual jobs on top of fulltime placement hours, and I see my family and friends far less than I’d like,” she said.
“It becomes emotionally draining. I absolutely want to finish my degree but I’ve genuinely wondered whether I can sustain this.”
Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon said Audrey’s story was far from unique.
“The introduction of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme last year has been a big help to the students it supports,” Professor Leon said.
“But it has created a two-tier system, with students in regional Australia disproportionately impacted because they already face higher costs for travel and accommodation to undertake higher education,” Professor Leon said.
“When those students are also required to undertake placements many hundreds of kilometres from home because of the more limited opportunities in regional Australia, the burden becomes overwhelming. It is unfair and, in too many cases, untenable.”
Work placements are a professional accreditation requirement in many fields of study.
Charles Sturt provides scholarships to support students on placements and actively works with organisations such as Country Education Foundation to support students. But scholarships treat the symptom rather than the cause and cannot solve the system-wide policy gap impacting students across regional Australia.
There are approximately 3,400 students studying medicine, allied health and veterinary science courses at Charles Sturt in 2026.
With more than 80 per cent of Charles Sturt regional students going on to live and work in the regions after graduation, this cohort represents thousands of future doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, veterinarians and other allied health professionals for regional Australia.
Professor Leon said failing to address the issue would have lasting consequences for rural and regional Australia.
“Regional communities depend on graduates like Audrey. Denying students adequate support risks driving them out of study.”
“The solution is obvious and straightforward: extend CPP to allied health, medicine and veterinary courses so those students can finish their courses and regional communities can get the skilled graduates they need."
Federal Member for Calare, Mr Andrew Gee, supports the push for the Commonwealth Prac Payment to be expanded to include medical and allied health students.
“People in the country die younger than those in the cities - that’s the cold, hard truth. If we’re serious about regional health, we need to back the students who will staff our hospitals, clinics and health services,” Mr Gee said.
“We’ve got to make it easier for students to live and work in the regions, not harder. Extending the prac payment is an investment in regional health services.”
Dr Shannon Nott, Chief Medical Officer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern (RFDSSE) section, said his organisation sees firsthand the value of supporting people from regional and rural areas to study locally, train locally and stay local.
“Regional, rural and remote communities continue to face shortages of allied health professionals, and addressing this challenge requires a coordinated, system‑wide approach,” Dr Nott said.
“While practical training support is already available for some students, ensuring it reaches all disciplines is an important part of strengthening the workforce pipeline.
“We welcome initiatives that remove barriers for students, particularly those from regional areas, and contribute to building a strong, sustainable allied health workforce for the future.”
Social
Explore the world of social