Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)

If you're studying teaching, nursing, midwifery, or social work, and you're about to start a mandatory placement, you might be eligible for the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP), a weekly payment to help with living costs while you're on placement.

Eligible students can receive $331.65 per week for the duration of their placement. This amount is based on the single Austudy rate and is means-tested so it’s designed to support students who need it most.

Applying for CPP

To be eligible, you must:

be a domestic student in a Commonwealth Supported Place
be enrolled in a Bachelor or Master’s degree in:
- Teaching (BECH, BEED, BPED, BSED, MELT, MPLT, MSLT)
- Nursing (BNSG)
- Midwifery (BMID)
- Social Work (BSWK, BSWH)
be completing a placement of at least 30 hours per week (note: Midwifery Continuity of Care placements have different criteria)
be either:
- receiving a commonwealth income support payment, or
- meet the ‘need to work’ test (worked 60 hours over 4 consecutive weeks before placement).

Note: Paramedicine, Engineering, and other Allied Health programs are not eligible.

What is the need to work test?

Depending on your situation, you may need:

proof of Centrelink payments
payslips (if applying under the ‘Need to Work’ test)
placement enrolment confirmation
any other documents requested during the application.

Tip: Gather all evidence and supporting documents before you start to make it easier.

More information on supporting evidence

Once you identify if you're eligible to apply for CPP, you'll need to:

log in to the UniSQ Scholarships Application Portal using your UConnect login
select the ‘CPP’ tile
upload your supporting documents.

I am receiving a commonwealth income support payment

If you are receiving a commonwealth income support payment, you can apply for the CPP at any time through UniSQ after you enrol in an eligible course.

You will need to apply for the CPP for every placement that you are attending. However, if you have received a CPP in the last six months, you will not need to supply any evidence - you just need to apply and confirm that your details haven’t changed. If it has been over six months, you will need to supply evidence of eligibility again in your application.

I am not receiving a commonwealth income support payment

If you are not receiving a commonwealth income support payment, you will need to meet the ‘Need to Work’ test. This means you will need to supply evidence that you have worked 60 hours over 4 consecutive weeks in the teaching period prior to the commencement of your placement.

If you haven’t completed the 4 weeks, or received evidence yet, you can still apply for the CPP and supply the evidence when you have it. We will hold your application for you if you meet all the other eligibility criteria.

If you’re not eligible for the CPP, there are other grants available:

Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant – up to $5,000 - offers eligible preservice teachers assistance with expenses associated with completing their final professional experience placement in any Queensland state school.
Beyond the Range Grant – up to $5,000 - offers eligible Education students assistance with organising placement-related travel expenses.
Regional Professional Experience Grant – up to $3,400 - offers eligible Education students assistance with organising placement-related travel expenses.
ECEC Living Allowance – for Early Childhood students already working in the sector with a living and travel allowance to complete practicum placements away from home.
Nursing & Midwifery Rural Placement Allowance – $5,000 - offers eligible Nursing and Midwifery students working in regional, rural or remote areas a one-off allowance.
Going Rural – supports Queensland nursing, midwifery, allied health, and dentistry students interested in exploring career pathways in remote and rural health.