Commonwealth Prac Payment
The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is funded by the Australian Government to help eligible students cover the costs of their mandatory placements. In 2025, if you’re eligible and studying an accredited entry-to-practice nursing, midwifery, social work or teaching degree, you’ll receive $331.65 for each week of your placement.
Key facts
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Eligible domestic students undertaking mandatory practicum placements and enrolled in an accredited entry-to-practice teaching, nursing and midwifery or social work degree. A means test will apply to be eligible for this payment.
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$331.65 per week (based on the single Austudy rate). Payments will be considered as taxable income.
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The CPP comes into effect from 1 July 2025, for students on or commencing an eligible placement (students on placements which end prior to 1 July 2025 are not eligible).
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You must submit an application with appropriate supporting documentation to be considered for this payment, You should aim to submit your application once your placement dates have been confirmed. Late applications may result in delayed payment.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, you must:
- be a domestic student enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place
- be enrolled a Bachelors or Masters degree in an eligible course of study that leads to entry-to-practice in teaching, social work, or nursing and midwifery
- be completing a mandatory placement on or after 1 July 2025
- be completing your placement on average more than 30 hours per week*
- not exceed the CPP maximum limit on the number of weeks of support available for your course
- meet one of the following income tests and provide relevant supporting documentation:
- be the recipient of an approved Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs payment OR
- be employed and working on average more than 15 hours a week and earning on average less than $1500 per week pre-tax/pre-deductions (inclusive of other income sources) in the four weeks prior to applying for CPP or the four weeks prior to commencing your placement, whichever is earlier (these consecutive weeks must be during a study period and can't be during an inter-trimester break).*
The maximum number of CPP funded weeks of placement for each eligible discipline are:
| Study discipline | Total available funded CPP weeks |
|---|---|
| Nursing (Bachelor) | 20 |
| Midwifery (Bachelor) | 20 plus 6 weeks for continuity of care |
| Teacher Education (Bachelor) | 16 |
| Teacher Education (Masters) | 12 |
| Social Work (Bachelor) | 26 |
| Social Work (Masters) | 26 |
Once you receive the maximum number of CPP funded placement weeks for your discipline (as listed above), you are not eligible for additional CPP funding, even if your course requires you to complete more placement weeks than the standard requirement.
Supporting documentation
Based on the eligibility criteria you meet, you will be required to provide the documents listed below:
- If you are the recipient of an approved Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs payment, you must submit either your Centrelink payment details or Centrelink Income Statement.
- If you are applying based on your 'need to work' (if you indicate you worked an average of 15 hours per week and earned less than $1,500 per week over a continuous four-week period before your placement or before submitting your application for CPP [whichever comes first]), you must submit one of the following: payslips, payroll summaries or printouts, or time and wage sheets for a consecutive four week period.
Please note, the above documents must be dated during a study period and can't be during an inter-trimester break. For example, applications submitted in July must include supporting documents that demonstrate you worked an average of at least 15 hours per week and earned less than the required income threshold during a consecutive four-week period within 12 May 2025 and 13 June 2025, to meet the 'need to work' test.
*If you have exceptional circumstances impacting your eligibility to receive this payment, you can submit additional documentation and you may still be considered for the CPP. Please refer to the FAQs on exceptional circumstances as not all circumstances are considered exceptional.
How to apply
Once your placement dates are confirmed, and you believe you meet the eligibility criteria with all required documentation ready, you can submit your application.
Over the next two months we will be prioritising applications based on your placement commencement dates.
- Applications are open now for placements commencing from 1 to 15 July 2025 (or placements that have already commenced as of 1 July 2025).
- Applications will open on 14 July 2025 for placements commencing from 16 to 31 July 2025.
- Applications will open on 29 July 2025 for placements commencing from 1 to 15 August 2025.
- Applications will open on 13 August 2025 for placements commencing from 16 to 31 August 2025.
- Applications will open on 29 August 2025 for placements commencing from 1 September 2025.
You will receive an outcome of your application within 28 days. Assessment priority will be determined by the earliest placement commencement date.
Frequently asked questions
For answers to frequently asked questions about the CPP, please read our dedicated page.
More information
For further information about the CPP, please email commpracpayment@deakin.edu.au. You can also read more on the Australian Government website.
Please note: Deakin is in ongoing consultation with the Australian Government and the eligibility criteria are subject to change.
