Frequently asked questions

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.

If you are applying under exceptional circumstances, aim to submit your application as soon as your placement is confirmed. You will need to provide detailed supporting documentation so consider what you will need to provide and have everything ready to go to prevent delays.

Yes. You must submit a separate application for each placement you wish to be considered for the CPP.

Your application will not be considered fully submitted until all supporting documents or requested information have been provided. If documents are missing, your application will remain in a pending state and cannot be fully assessed. This will delay both the assessment and any potential payment. To avoid delays, please ensure you submit all required information when you complete your application.

To be eligible for the CPP, your mandatory placement must average 30 hours or more per week. If your placement averages less than 30 hours per week, you may still be considered for this payment if exceptional circumstances apply.

You can meet the income test in one of two ways.

Income Support recipient: if you are in receipt of an approved Income Support Payment or allowance listed on the Services Australia website. The ABSTUDY Living Allowance and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Education Allowance are also eligible income support payments.

Need to work test: 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.)

The four weeks must fall within a study period (not overlapping with or within an inter-trimester break).

Exceptional circumstances applications provide you with the opportunity to apply for the CPP, despite not meeting one or more of the CPP eligibility requirements.

Exceptional circumstances are defined as circumstances which:

• are outside your control or temporary, uncommon, irregular or unusual and
• can be supported through independent documentation and
• have a direct and significant impact on your ability to meet one or more of the eligibility requirements to receive the CPP.

In the case of your income test eligibility, your exceptional circumstance needs to have occurred in the evidentiary period.

Exceptional circumstances fall into three categories:

1. Disability requiring reasonable adjustments.
2. Your health and medical conditions.
3. Acute personal and family life.

Carer responsibilities are not considered an exceptional circumstance unless it is uncommon, irregular or unusual.

Exceptional circumstances applications are referred to the Department of Education for final assessment and approval. You should submit your exceptional circumstances application at least four weeks before your placement begins to allow sufficient time for assessment.

During the application process, if you do not meet an eligibility criteria where exceptional circumstance could apply, you will be prompted to provide a response and supporting documentation.

The supporting documentation you provide is an important part of your CPP application assessment.

When providing documentation, make sure it:

• is clear, detailed and includes relevant dates and
• specifically supports your CPP application and
• confirms the period you were affected by your circumstances (this must fall within your required evidentiary period) and
• explains any adjustments or impacts relevant to your application.

Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• medical documentation written specifically in support of your CPP application
• a Learning Access Plan
• a Statutory Declaration
• other relevant documentation that clearly explains your circumstances and the impact on your eligibility.

Do not submit prescriptions, test results or referral letters.

If you make a mistake on your application, please reply to your submission receipt email as soon as possible with the correct information or any additional documentation.

The action taken will depend on the type of mistake identified. If the error affects key application details (such as selecting the incorrect unit), you may be required to submit a new application.

Please ensure all information provided in your application is accurate and that you upload the correct supporting documentation before submitting.

You must email commpracpayment@deakin.edu.au if your circumstances change, including any changes to your placement dates. Please include your name, student ID, and your application reference number (typically starting with MYRI) when you contact us. If you are no longer eligible for the payment, any amount already paid must be repaid immediately.

If your circumstances change during your placement in a way that could impact your ongoing eligibility for the CPP, you must email commpracpayment@deakin.edu.au immediately.

If you are still enrolled in your course, any amount of the CPP made will be considered as an advance payment and you will receive reduced support in your next placement block. If you have withdrawn completely from your studies, you will be expected to immediately repay any amount relating to your current placement. An encumbrance will be placed on your enrolment which will limit your ability to access University services and documentation if any amount remains outstanding.

Yes. The CPP is considered taxable income. You are responsible for declaring this payment in your tax return for the relevant financial year and for managing any associated tax obligations, as Deakin University does not manage this process on your behalf.

You can self serve your CPP payment summaries for declaration via StudentConnect following the instruction below

1. Log into StudentConnect
2. Click on 'Enrolment' on the left-hand toolbar.
3. Click on 'Letter generation' menu option.
4. From the Letter generation option:
   • Choose 'Commonwealth Prac Payment'
   • Choose how to receive the letter, either by Email (a copy will be sent to your Deakin student email address) or download and email (a PDF copy should download automatically, and you will receive a copy to your Deakin student email address)
   • Click on Generate

For more information on how to declare your CPP with the ATO, visit Government payments and allowances.

Yes. If you receive an Income Support Payment, you must report your CPP payments to Services Australia or the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of your existing income reporting obligations. You should report this income as soon as you are advised your application has been approved.

Learn more about when and how to report your CPP to Services Australia and Department of Veterans' Affairs by checking their official guidelines.

Yes. The CPP is funded by the Australian Government. Your application information will be shared at a summary level with the Department of Education for both successful and unsuccessful applications. Your Centrelink reference number will not be shared. If you apply under exceptional circumstances, your full application and supporting documents will be provided to the Department of Education for assessment against the CPP exceptional circumstances criteria

You will be asked to provide your bank account details in StudentConnect after your application has been assessed and you have been advised that you are eligible for the payment.

To avoid delays to your payment, please provide your bank details as soon as possible. Payments cannot be processed until your bank details have been received, and delays may result in you being included in a later pay run.

Payments will be processed fortnightly, ideally as close as possible to your placement start date. The timing of your payment depends on when you submit your application, when your application is approved and when you provide your bank account details.

If your application is submitted and approved before your placement begins, your first payment instalment will be made on or as close as possible to your placement start date (refer to table below for estimated scheduled payment dates).

Please note that payments are generally processed on Mondays. However, where this is not possible, they may be processed on another business day during the week. For this reason, we ask that you allow up to five business days after the scheduled pay run for the funds to appear in your account before contacting us.

If your application is submitted and approved after your placement has commenced or been completed, your payment will be included in the next available fortnightly pay run following approval.

Example A: You submit a CPP application on 19 January 2026 for a placement completed in 2025. The application is approved on 23 January 2026. You will be included in the 2 February 2026 payment run.

Example B: You submit a CPP application on 15 March 2026 for a placement completed in February 2026. The application is approved on 20 March 2026. You will be included in the 30 March 2026 payment run.

Yes. The total amount of support you can receive under the CPP is limited to the minimum required placement period for entry-to-practice in your eligible field of study, as set by the relevant accrediting body. Please refer to the information regarding the maximum number of funded placement weeks. If you change to another eligible discipline (for example, from nursing to teaching), your CPP entitlement will reset for your new course.

If you need to repeat a placement, the maximum number of supported weeks under the CPP will not increase. Please refer to the approved courses and maximum eligible weeks table for more information.

The CPP currently supports students in entry-to-practice degrees in teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work, as these courses have long placement requirements. The Australian Government acknowledges the challenges faced by students in other disciplines, but there are no current plans to expand the CPP to additional degrees at this time.

The Australian Government is currently considering expanding the payment to other disciplines.