Employability

Commonwealth Prac Payment

Personalise
A medium closeup of a confident female teacher stood at the front of her classroom waiting for her pupils to arrive. The classroom is all ready and prepared for the new day. She is in a school in Hexham in the North East of England.

The Commonwealth Prac Payment helps eligible students manage the costs associated with a mandatory placement as part of your course. 

In 2026 the payment of $338.60 per week is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below, for the duration of your placement.  

If you are identified as potentially eligible, you will receive an email from the university to your UNSW email address with instructions on how to apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the payment, you must be: 

  • a domestic student 
  • enrolled in one of the following eligible UNSW programs (including double degrees): 
    • Bachelor of Education (Primary or Secondary) 
    • Master of Teaching (Primary or Secondary) 
    • Bachelor of Social Work 
  • enrolled in one of the following eligible UNSW courses in 2026, requiring 30+ hours per week for the placement duration: 
    • EDST6765 - Professional Experience 2   
    • SOCW3012/3013 - Social Work Practice Level 3 - Placement A and B  
    • SOCW4017/4018 - Social Work Practice Level 4 - Placement A and B 
    • EDST6760 - Professional Experience 1 
  • enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). 

In addition to the above requirements, you must either: 

  • Be on an Australian Government Income Support Payment, (e.g. Austudy, Youth Allowance), Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) payment or ABSTUDY.  

OR 

  • Meet the Means/Income test, where you can show that you need to work during your studies. You can do this by demonstrating that you worked on average 15+ hours a week in the 4 weeks leading up to either applying for CPP or commencing your eligible placement. You also need to demonstrate that you did not earn more than $1,536.70 per week (before tax) during that same 4-week period.

Exceptional circumstances

You may be able to access the CPP if there are exceptional circumstances relating to disability, health and medical needs, or an acute personal or family life event. You still need to be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and in an eligible course listed above. Read the Government’s CPP FAQs for more information on exceptional circumstances. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you are identified as potentially eligible, we will send the application form link to your UNSW email address 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period you are enrolled in. Your application will be assessed to determine if it is successful. 

    To ensure you receive the payment on time, please apply at least 4 weeks before your placement commences, or as soon as possible after receiving the email from UNSW inviting you to apply. If you apply for the CPP after your placement ends, your application may be rejected. 

  • Under the CPP, eligible students will receive a weekly amount of $338.60 in 2026, for the duration of your placement. 

    Please note: Approved payments for placements completed in 2025 will be at the rate of $331.65 per week.

  • When you apply for the CPP, you will receive confirmation of your eligibility via email, with a request to provide the University with your bank details. Payments will be processed 4 - 6 weeks after you provide your bank details. You will receive fortnightly payments for the duration of your placement. 

    If you have not received your payment after 6 weeks from providing your bank details, please contact the Scholarships team. 

  • Eligible students will receive an email with instructions for providing your bank details once your application is processed and approved. You will receive the payment into your nominated bank account 4 - 6 weeks after you have provided the correct details. 

  • Income counted toward the 2026 threshold of $1,536.70 includes wages/wage subsidies, scholarships/bursaries paid to you and other University or Commonwealth and State Government support. 

    If you receive an annual or lump sum payment during the 4-week evidentiary period, this will be converted to a weekly amount and included as part of the Income test.  

    Please note: If you are applying for a placement completed in 2025, you will be assessed against the 2025 income threshold of $1500. 

  • If you apply for the CPP after your placement ends, please be aware that your application may be rejected. 

    If your application is approved, you will receive payment for any time you were enrolled and participating in your mandatory placement after the scheme came into effect on 1 July 2025, provided you have met all other eligibility requirements. 

    Please note that the rate of payment is $331.65 per week for 2025 placements, and $338.60 per week for 2026 placements.

  • No, international students are not eligible for the CPP. 

  • No, the funding for this scheme was not available prior to 1 July 2025. 

  • Currently the Government anticipates this program to be ongoing. Any changes will be updated on this webpage.  

  • Please contact the ADA WIL team at professionalengagement@unsw.edu.au (Education) or socialwork@unsw.edu.au (Social Work) as soon as possible to discuss your options. 

  • If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible, you may be required to return the funds. Please contact the ADA WIL team at professionalengagement@unsw.edu.au (Education) or socialwork@unsw.edu.au (Social Work) as soon as possible to discuss your options. 

  • Students can claim up to the maximum CPP funded weeks of placement for each eligible discipline:

    • Teacher Education (Bachelor): 16 weeks
    • Teacher Education (Masters): 12 weeks
    • Social Work (Bachelor): 26 weeks
    • Social Work (Masters): 26 weeks

  • Yes, this payment may affect other Income Support Payments you receive, such as Youth Allowance. If you receive the CPP you will be required to report these payments to Services Australia, the same way you report other forms of income and financial assistance. You should do this as soon as you know the dates of your practicum placement.  

    If you do not report your CPP income, you may owe a debt to Centrelink which you will have to repay.

  • Yes. If you receive the CPP you need to declare this to the ATO as part of annual tax returns. See the ATO website for assistance. 

  • There are a range of scholarships and other financial aid available at UNSW that you may be eligible for. 

  • The maximum CPP funded weeks of placement for Social Work is 26 weeks. UNSW will divide this equally between Level 3 Placement (SOCW3012/3013) and Level 4 Placement (SOCW4017/4018), meaning 13 weeks' worth will be paid for each placement, provided you are eligible for the full duration of each placement.  

    Your 13 weeks’ worth of placement funding is not paid weekly. Instead, it is evenly distributed across the total number of calendar days between your placement start and end date, including weekends. If your placement includes a scheduled break, you will continue to receive payments during that time; however, you will not be paid for the break period itself, as payments are only calculated based on active placement days.

    Example: 
    A student completes an 18‑week placement in 2026, starting 27 January 2026 and ending 31 May 2026. This period contains 125 calendar days.

    • Total CPP entitlement: 13 × $338.60 = $4,401.80
    • Daily rate: $4,401.80 ÷ 125 = $35.21 per day
    • Fortnightly payment: $35.21 × 14 = approx. $493 per fortnight

    Your first and final payments may be higher or lower than the regular fortnightly amount because they may cover partial pay periods or include back payments, but the total amount you receive by the end of your placement will always equal your full 13‑week entitlement.

Looking for help?

If you have questions about the CPP please submit your enquiry through this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

You can also find more information and FAQs on the Government’s CPP website.