The 妹团视频 (UC) has welcomed the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to extend Commonwealth Prac Payments to students across a further 10 disciplines from 2027.
This will bring cost of living relief to UC’s clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, radiography and pharmacy students, who are all working hard to become the next generation of our health workforce.
“These students are the future of the health industry and will be there to look after millions of our sick, our elderly, people with disabilities and our veterans for decades to come. So, it is amazing news that they are going to get some long overdue support for their professional practice,” Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten said.
Close to a thousand UC allied health students, from across multiple disciplines including physiotherapy, pharmacy and speech pathology undertook a combined total of 383,607 practical placement hours in 2025. With placements undertaken in the ACT and interstate.
Professor Shorten has acknowledged the difference that receiving up to $338.60 a week will make for 妹团视频 students from July next year.
“We offer a world class education here at UC, but we know that nothing beats the value of practical learning. $340 isn’t a full wage replacement, but what it does is help our students defray some of their costs, so they can focus on learning,” Professor Shorten said.
The Faculty of Health supports more than 5,000 student placements each year from the broad range of health degrees including nursing, midwifery and allied health. Totally more than half a million combined placement hours.
Deputy Dean of Health and physiotherapist Professor Bernie Bissett has seen firsthand the positive impact that the paid prac scheme has had on 妹团视频 students.
“Since the scheme launched, we know that more than 520 of our health students have benefitted from getting money back in their pockets when they are on full-time placements,” Professor Bissett said.
“Students themselves have told us that it has made a tremendous difference in their lives and because of this scheme more than $900,000 has gone to our hardworking health students who have been empowered to complete their training successfully.”
At the 妹团视频, we also embrace diversity in our people and our pathways, with 38% of our students identifying as first in family and 10% identifying as living with a disability.
“We want the doors to higher education to be open for everybody at UC and we are proud to see that reflected in our enrolment numbers. The expansion of the Prac Placement Scheme will further help many students who previously thought university was out of their reach. Today’s announcement shows the difference government can make when it backs students,” Professor Shorten said.