From David Smith MP - July/August eNews

In July, the Albanese Labor Government announced that it would be expanding the Commonwealth Prac Payment to people training in an additional ten key frontline health professions. This will provide cost of living relief for students and help to strengthen Medicare by growing the health workforce Australians need.

This initiative will help incentivise and support our future healthcare workforce to continue on a long career in health. The fields of study that will now be included are: clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapies, audiology, and podiatry.

Eligible students currently receive $338.60 per week during their clinical and professional placement periods. It is a means tested payment benchmarked to the single Austudy rate and indexed annually.

Paid prac provides financial support to help students while they undertake practical training. Paid prac already covers eligible teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students.

More information on the Commonwealth Prac Payment.