The Federal Government has announced student paramedics and those studying physiotherapy and occupational therapy, clinical psychology, pharmacy, podiatry, speech pathology, audiology, radiography and rehab therapies will become eligible for the Commonwealth Prac Payment of around $338 a week from 1 June 2027.
It follows a sustained HSU campaign for more allied health students to be included in the scheme after many were excluded from the professions covered when it was first designed.
The expansion of paid mandatory placements to a further ten allied health professions is a hard-fought victory for students and the future of Australia’s health system, the Health Services Union said today.
Allied health students are required to complete hundreds – and in some cases thousands – of hours of mandatory placement before graduating, often forcing them to give up the paid employment they rely on to cover rent, food, transport and other essentials.
Students reported skipping meals, falling behind on bills and considering abandoning their degrees because they could not afford to complete their placements, despite Australia facing serious shortages across the allied health workforce.
The expansion will help more students complete their qualifications and enter the health, aged care and disability workforces, with the HSU campaign set to continue until all allied health students undertaking mandatory placements receive financial support.
HSU National Secretary Dustin Halse welcomed the announcement.
“Paid placements are a practical investment in the future of Medicare and the health, aged care and disability services Australians rely on.
“When students can afford to complete their training, more graduates enter the workforce and more patients get the care they need.
“The HSU will continue campaigning until every allied health student undertaking a mandatory placement receives proper financial support.”
HSU National President Kate Marshall said sustained pressure from students and their union delivered change.
“This is a hard-fought victory for students who have been expected to complete compulsory placements without being paid a cent.
“From the moment this scheme was being designed, the HSU said it was fundamentally unfair to support some care professions while leaving most of allied health behind.
“Working closely with our allied health members and students over more than two years of sustained campaigning, we kept pushing because students were suffering and questioning whether they could afford to finish qualifications Australia desperately needs them to complete.”
