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Commonwealth Prac Payment

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The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is available from 1 July 2025.

As this is a new program, many aspects are continuing to develop. We'll update this page as new information becomes available.

Before submitting an application or enquiry, we strongly encourage you to review all the information on this page.

  1. About the CPP
  2. Eligibility
  3. Documentation
  1. Applying for the CPP
  2. Conditions of award
  3. Privacy Collection Notice

4. Applying for the CPP

Before you apply, please read the eligibility and documentation requirements.

You'll need to complete an application for each placement course that you are undertaking.

How to apply

  1. Ensure you are enrolled in the course for which you are applying for the CPP.
  2. Gather all necessary documents ahead of time to ensure a smooth application process.
  3. Submit your application. Log in to My Requests via your my.UQ dashboard and select the Commonwealth Prac Payment application form.

Application dates

The application form for CPP is expected to become available in mid-July. Students eligible to apply will be directly notified by email once applications open.

Applications for future semesters will not be accepted at this time, and information on applying for Semester 1, 2026 will be available at a later date.

We recommend applying 2 months ahead of the scheduled start date of your allocated placement, to allow enough time for your application to be assessed before the placement starts.

While you can submit an application closer to or even after the start of a placement, applications will not be accepted more than 3 months after the end of a given semester, or after you have graduated.

Applications under Exceptional Circumstances must be referred to the Department of Education by UQ and will take longer to assess.

You can track your request in your my.UQ Dashboard under My Requests. You'll also be notified via your UQ student email account as your application progresses.

Documentation requirements

Your application must include acceptable documentation to support your eligibility. Refer to Documentation for the list of documents you must supply with your application.

To avoid any unnecessary delays in assessing your application, we recommended gathering your documentation before you apply.

Exceptional circumstances applications

The Australian Government recognises students at risk of placement poverty may have exceptional circumstances which prevent them meeting eligibility for the:

  • minimum weekly placement hours, or
  • 'Need to work' and Income criteria.

The Department of Education will consider applications from students with exceptional circumstances if UQ is satisfied and can demonstrate that the circumstances meet the Department’s requirements.

Exceptional circumstances must:

  • Be outside the student’s control and/or temporary, uncommon, irregular or unusual.
  • Have impacted the student within the 4 week ‘evidentiary period’ or the placement period.
  • Be supported by documented evidence that demonstrates a direct and significant impact on the student’s ability to meet one or more of the CPP eligibility requirements.
  • In the case of the income support and/or income eligibility requirements, be expected to be satisfied in the applicant’s regular day to day life when undertaking their normal studies.

Exceptional circumstances may be ongoing or episodic in nature. They may be experienced by the student, or by someone they have a significant relationship with (e.g. if the student has demonstrated caring responsibilities).

Eligibility for exceptional circumstances

Circumstances that can normally be considered under these provisions include:

Disability, mental health or medical condition, illness, injury or caring responsibilities

This may apply if you are enrolled in an eligible course and either: 

  • receive an eligible Income Support Payment or meet the Need to work and Income test, but are unable to undertake a full-time placement averaging at least 30 hours per week due to the impact of your condition or circumstances
  • are undertaking an eligible placement, but are unable to meet the Eligible Income Support Payment or Need to work and Income test due to the impact of your condition or circumstances.

The functional impacts of your condition and required adjustments must be verified and documented through a Student Access Plan

Inability to meet Documentation Requirements due to severe, unusual and unexpected circumstances beyond your control

This may apply to you if circumstances beyond your control, such as a natural disaster, prevent you from providing acceptable documentation of an eligible Income Support Payment or the Need to work and Income test.

  • You must be able to provide acceptable documentation to demonstrate these exceptional circumstances in your application
  • If your application is approved, you may be required to provide acceptable documentary evidence of an Eligible Commonwealth Income Support Payment or the Need to Work and Income Criteria at a later date.

Exclusions from exceptional circumstances

Exceptional Circumstances applications will not be accepted in the following circumstances:

  • you are not a domestic student
  • you are not enrolled in an eligible program or eligible course
  • you are allocated a placement that does not meet the eligible placement requirements due to limited availability of full-time placements
  • you do not have a Commonwealth Supported Place in your program
  • your circumstances are not unusual, uncommon, irregular or beyond your control.

Deadlines for exceptional circumstances

Applications for exceptional circumstances should be submitted at least 6 weeks before starting the relevant placement.

While you can apply closer to or even after the start of a placement, applications will not be accepted more than 3 months after the end of a given semester, or after you have graduated.

How to apply for exceptional circumstances

If you believe exceptional circumstances will prevent you from meeting the eligibility criteria for minimum weekly placement hours or the Need to Work and Income criteria, please include a brief summary of your circumstances in this section. You can also submit a separate document titled Exceptional Circumstances Application when submitting this request

We will be in touch to discuss the best way to submit any supporting documentation required for your exceptional circumstances application.

Application assessment and outcome

Your application will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and you will be contacted if additional information is required to assess your application.

It can take up to 60 days for an application to be assessed and finalised, but every effort will be made to notify you of the outcome before you commence the placement.

You will be notified of the outcome in writing via the my.UQ dashboard, including:

  • the number of weeks of CPP you have been awarded
  • the weekly rate at which you will be paid
  • the payment schedule
  • the conditions of award
  • how to accept the award
  • how to provide nominated bank account details via mySInet. 

CPP payment

If you are approved to receive the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP), payment will be made direct to your nominated bank account.

  • If the CPP is awarded for a period longer than 2 weeks, payments will generally be made in fortnightly instalments.
  • The first payment will be made in advance, if possible.
  • Second and subsequent payments for any semester will be made in fortnightly instalments.
  • Retrospective lump sum payments may be made if the CPP is approved during or after the placement.
  • If you are paid for a week that you did not attend placement, your next payment may be withheld, either within that placement or in a subsequent placement.