Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)

The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) provides $338.60 per week to eligible students while they are undertaking a mandatory placement. This payment aims to assist with the with cost-of-living while students gain essential practical experience.

The maximum number of weeks CPP can be awarded is determined by the Australian Government as:

To be eligible you must:

• be a domestic student enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
• be enrolled in one of the following RMIT programs:
  • Bachelor of Education (BP320)
  • Bachelor of Health, Physical Education and Sport (Secondary) (BP319)
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BP032)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) (BH105)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (BH106)
  • Master of Social Work (MC150)
  • Master of Teaching Practice (Primary Education) (MC219)
  • Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education) (MC220)
• be undertaking a mandatory placement that is 30 hours or more per week

You will also need to be either:

• receiving an eligible Australian Government income suport payment;

OR

• meet the Need to Work and Income Test by providing evidence^* that you've worked an average of more than 15 hours per week over a continuous four-week period in your most recent study period, and
• earned no more than $1,536.37^** per week (before tax)

^*Payslips must be from your most recent study period and not during holidays or placement. You must include any income you receive from State, Territory or Commonwealth scholarships, University scholarships, multiple employers and/or self-employment.

^**For placements undertaken in 2025, you must have earned no more than $1,500 per week (before tax).

Exceptional circumstances

Students who are unable to meet the Need to Work Test or 30 hour per week placement requirements due to exceptional circumstances can still apply. 

Exceptional circumstances may include:

• Health and medical
• Disability
• Acute personal or family event(s)

Being a parent or primary carer is not considered an exceptional circumstance unless the child or children have additional needs.

Where exceptional circumstances exist and appropriate evidence has been submitted, applications will be sent to the government for their review and outcome.  

Please visit Supporting documentation Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for more information.

Complete the online application form here. Partial applications will not be assessed.

Application timings 

• It is preferred that you apply after your placement is confirmed
• You cannot apply more than two months before your placement start date
• You cannot apply after you have graduated

Supporting documentation

Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide different types of evidence and material to support your application. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered. 

Examples of eligible financial supporting documentation are available here.

Please visit Supporting documentation Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for more information.

Applications are now open.

Applications close 11:59pm Monday 14 December 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

View the Coursework Scholarships Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) terms and conditions.

The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is a government initiative to support learning outcomes by easing financial pressure on students during mandatory placements and increasing retention rates and completion of qualifications, where the financial impact of placements may have otherwise influenced students to defer or withdraw from study.

For more information visit Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP).

Applicants are responsible for:

• Accurately completing their CPP application and providing eligible documentation
• Applying for the CPP in a timely fashion
• Gathering and providing eligibility evidence required for the application
• Understanding that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995 and the department will investigate any false or misleading information and may exclude an application from further consideration.

For students in the Diploma of Nursing program, the Australian Government will manage payments via the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

Please visit the Australian Government's Your Career website – Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for further information.

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.