The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) scheme offers $338.60 per week (as of 2026, benchmarked to the single Austudy rate on 1 January each year) to eligible students while they are undertaking a mandatory placement in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work. It is currently not available to other healthcare students.
What is Osteopathy Australia advocating for?
Osteopathy Australia calls for the government to extend the CPP scheme all allied health professions, including osteopaths.
Why this benefits Australians
- Assist future healthcare practitioners to complete studies, regardless of financial status or geography.
- Increases the supply of allied health professionals.
- Reduces the impact of current workforce shortages acknowledged across Australia.
- Improve access and equity for Australians to healthcare.
Policy issues and barriers
- We commend the government for recognising the need for student support throughout their studies and investing in the future of the Australian workforce by creating the Commonwealth Prac Payment program.
- The current program is only extended to a small number of professions, and many other students have equivalent, unsupported, mandatory placement obligations.
- A significant proportion of healthcare students are left without financial placement support, despite significant placement burdens or cost.
- This places healthcare students at risk of falling into placement poverty’ or withdrawing from their studies.
Government must extend these benefits to all allied health professionals to create a sustainable workforce that can service the population needs. With the rising cost of living, students are increasingly facing financial struggles and ‘placement poverty’ which is impacting their ability to complete their studies. Investing in and supporting students throughout their studies will help to ensure Australia has a capable and sustainable workforce into the future.