Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)

The CPP provides financial assistance to eligible students while undertaking mandatory full-time practicum placements. The amount a student is paid will depend on when they completed or are completing placement.

The maximum period CPP can be awarded is as below:

Note: Payments for eligible students will only be made starting from 1 July 2025. Any placement period before this date will not be considered.

To be eligible for this Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a permanent humanitarian visa holder
• be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) 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 enrolled/enrolling in a mandatory practicum placement for your program that is 30 hours or more per week for its duration
• be undertaking a mandatory practicum placement that begins on or after 1 July 2025
• be either:
• • receiving an eligible Centrelink/Department of Veteran Affairs low-income support payment;
    • eligible Centrelink income support payments include ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension,  JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Special Benefit, Farm Household Allowance, Youth Allowance
    • eligible Department of Veteran Affairs payments include Age Pension, Income Support Supplement, Service Pension, Veteran Payment, Education Allowance, OR;
  • meet the Need to Work Test and Income Test:
    • Need to Work Test - working an average of 15 hours or more per week in the most recent four-week study period. Payslips must be from your most recent study period and not during holidays or placement.
    • Income Test - not earning more than $1,536.37^* on average a week (before tax) (including any scholarships you receive or similar financial cost of living assistance from Commonwealth States and Territories, and excluding accommodation scholarships at Purpose Built Student Accommodation). 

^*For 2025 placement's you must not have earned, on average, more than $1,500 a 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. Supporting documentation for exceptional circumstances must include general details of the circumstances, how they affect your ability to engage with work or study, how long these circumstances will apply, and the estimated time you will be unable to meet the eligibility requirements. 

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 prior to the start of your placement, or more than six months after the start date of your placement
• 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.