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.
Key facts
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Who is it for?
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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How much is it?
$338.60 per week for placements undertaken in 2026. Payments based on the single Austudy rate. Payments will be considered as taxable income.
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What's required?
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 in 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 for an average of 30 hours or more per week
- not exceed the CPP maximum limit on the number of weeks of support available for your course (see table below)
- meet one of the following income tests and provide relevant supporting documentation:
- be the recipient of an approved Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs Income Support Payment, or
- be employed and, during the four weeks prior to applying for the CPP or the four weeks prior to commencing your placement (whichever is earlier; this is known as the evidentiary period), demonstrating that you were:
- working on average more than 15 hours a week, and
- earning an average of less than $1,536.37 per week pre-tax/pre-deductions for placements undertaken in 2026 (inclusive of all income sources such as employment, scholarships, investments, etc.)
Payments are calculated on the minimum duration (weeks/hours) required by the placement unit according to the 2026 Handbook.
Supporting documentation
If you are the recipient of an approved Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs Income Support Payment, you must submit either your Centrelink payment details or Centrelink Income Statement, or
If you are applying based on your 'need to work', you must submit one of the following demonstrating that, for four consecutive continuous weeks in the evidentiary period, you worked an average of more than 15 hours per week and earned an average income of less than $1,536.37 per week during your evidentiary period:
- payslips, payroll summaries or printouts, or time and wage sheets, or
- Employer Confirmation Form (PDF, 186.3 KB) – use this form to provide evidence of your employment, hours worked, and income. Please note: If you have multiple employers, each employer must fill a separate form.
Exceptional circumstances: If applying for the CPP based on exceptional circumstances, you will need to provide evidence that relates to your individual circumstance, which may include specific medical documentation written in support of your application for the CPP, a Learning Access Plan, Statutory Declaration or other documentation which clearly details your circumstance and the adjustment required. All documents must include the dates during which you were affected by the stated circumstances, and these dates must fall within the required evidentiary period. Please visit our Frequently asked questions page for more information on the eligibility criteria and how to submit an exceptional circumstances application.
Maximum number of weeks of support
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.
How to apply
Apply once your placement dates are confirmed and you meet eligibility requirements with all documentation ready.
Applications open two months before your placement starts and close six months after it begins. Applications submitted outside this timeframe will not be considered, so apply as early as possible to avoid delays.
You will receive an outcome of your application within 28 days.
Applications are now open.
More information
For answers to frequently asked questions about the CPP, please read our dedicated page.
For further enquiries 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.
