The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is urging Diploma of Nursing students to take up the Commonwealth Prac Payment, which has just opened for applications.
The new payment of $331.65 per week during clinical placements is a vital move in addressing the financial barriers that have prevented many students from completing their nursing qualifications and could be the deciding factor in helping people decide to make the move to embark on a rewarding career in nursing.
"We need to do everything we can to remove all obstacles to people studying nursing, especially young people setting out on the first nervous steps of a potential lifelong career, " Acting ACN CEO, Dr Zachary Byfield said.
"Studying nursing requires students to take time out from their paid work to complete clinical placements. It can be an insurmountable barrier for some, forcing them to choose between their studies and food or rent. This payment goes some of the way to helping to ease that burden."
"We know that we are going to have to implement strategies to support the workforce if we are to make a dent in Australia's critical nursing shortage, which is projected to hit 123,000 by 2030 if current trends continue."
"The prac payments are a great start but only the first of many interventions needed. ACN has been urging the Federal Government to invest in a campaign to enhance the image of nursing – and this must target school-aged students, to boost nursing course enrolments."
The payment, available from 1 July 2025, covers up to 400 hours of mandatory clinical placement and can be accessed in addition to existing income support. Students can apply for the Commonwealth Prac Payment through their myGov account via the Your Career government service portal at www.yourcareer.gov.au/cpp. ACN encourages all eligible nursing students to apply as soon as possible to ensure they receive support when clinical placements commence.
For students enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's nursing degree, the prac payment will be delivered through their higher education provider.
