Get assistance when undertaking a placement

The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is an initiative of the Australian Government, which offers some nursing, midwifery, teaching, and social work students financial support while they are undertaking mandatory placements in their respective fields.




How to apply

Nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work students can apply for the Commonwealth Prac Payment via the University's CPP application portal.

You will only be able to apply if you are enrolled in an eligible course and have been assigned a placement by the Professional Experience Unit (PEU) in your college. You will be advised via student email once your placement has been allocated. After you receive this email, you can submit your application for CPP.

  1. Gather your eligibility documents:
    1. a payment summary, if you receive Centrelink or DVA payments, or;
    2. payslips (or other appropriate evidence) over a continuous four weeks during your most recent study period, if you work more than 15 hours per week.
  2. Navigate to the CPP application portal where you will apply using your student email in the firstname.lastname@uon.edu.au format). A detailed guide providing an overview of the application process is linked below.
  3. Once your application is approved you will receive a confirmation email and a link to enter your bank account details
  4. Your payment will be released to you on Wednesday of the second week of your placement as per the Payment Schedule

Flow chart that reads: Be enrolled in a placement course and have a confirmed placement, Gather documents to support your application, Apply via the CPP Application Portal, Receive email with the outcome of your application, enter bank details in CPP application portal, payment released on the first wednesday following your placement start date

Apply Now Application How to Guide

Overview - Commonwealth Prac Payment

From July 1, 2025, eligible students will be able to access $331.65 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate on 1 January each year) while they are undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum), helping to manage the associated costs.

As students prepare for their career-ready placements in these fields, they should be aware of the eligibility criteria.

As this is a national initiative, many factors will determine the exact date which you’ll be able to apply for CPP, but we expect this to be in mid-July. As soon as we’re ready to accept applications we will communicate this to students. You can find information on how to apply here.

For students with placements that have already commenced or are commencing shortly, you will be able to apply as soon as applications are open. You can apply for up to 6 months after the commencement of your placement as long as this is before graduation.

If you are not eligible for the CPP, you may be eligible for other financial support services for students undertaking a placement. If you visit the University website you can explore how you could be supported through this important part of your studies.

More information about Commonwealth Prac Payments, including helpful FAQs, can be found on the Department of Education website.



Video

Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) Student Webinar 16 July 2025

On July 16 2025, the University hosted a webinar for students about the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP). This session was recorded, so if you would like to catch up on the covered topics such as eligibility, allowances, applications, payments, and resources, you can do so here.

To be eligible for CPP, you must meet a range of criteria. To learn more about the criteria, please visit the Department of Education website.