Frequently Asked Questions

Commonwealth Prac Payment FAQs

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• How much can you receive through the CPP?

  Eligible students will be able to receive up to $338.60* per week during the eligible placement period. 

  *The CPP payment rate changes each year with indexation

  Those who completed a placement in 2025 will receive up to $331.65 per week during the eligible placement period.

• Who does the CPP help?

  The CPP aims to help students most in need of support and those who are most financially disadvantaged due to limitations on their ability to undertake paid work during placement.

• Is the CPP a wage?

  No. The CPP is not a wage or wage subsidy. It’s a cost-of-living support to help alleviate financial costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement. 

• Are international students eligible to apply?

  No, the CPP is only available for eligible domestic CSP students. 

• How is the CPP paid?

  The CPP is paid at a weekly rate which is benchmarked to the single Austudy rate. Eligible students will be paid by UTS on a fortnightly basis. 

• How long do I have to apply for CPP?

  You have up to 6 months from the commencement of the placement start date to apply for CPP. However, your application should occur while you are still a UTS student.

• How many weeks is the CPP available?

  The length of your CPP is linked to the minimum period of placement to achieve entry-to-practice in your field of study, as set out by your relevant accrediting body: 

  • If you’re studying a Bachelor of Teacher Education, you can receive a CPP for a maximum of 16 weeks
  • If you’re studying a Masters of Teacher Education, you can receive a CPP for a maximum of 12 weeks
  • If you’re studying Bachelor of Nursing, you can receive a CPP for a maximum of 20 weeks
  • If you’re studying a Bachelor of Midwifery, you can receive a CPP for a maximum of 26 weeks

• How often do I need to apply for CPP?

  You need to lodge an application for CPP each time you are seeking CPP support. This means you will lodge an application for CPP per eligible prac subject.

• What happens if you fail a placement?

  The CPP is capped at the minimum period of placement to achieve entry-to-practice in your field of study. If you fail a placement and are required to retake or repeat it, you can apply for CPP again until the cap has been reached. However, once you reach this cap, you won’t be eligible for additional CPP for any extra weeks of your placement. 

• What happens if you change courses to another eligible discipline?

  If you transfer to a new course that still uses CPP (i.e. transfer from nursing to teaching), your CPP entitlement will reset and you can apply for the full amount of CPP support for the placement requirements of your new discipline of study. 

• What happens if you leave UTS and do the same course at a different institution?

  If you transfer to the same course through a different higher education provider (i.e. from nursing at UTS to nursing at another university), your CPP entitlement will reset and you can apply for the full amount of CPP support for the placement requirements at your new higher education provider. 

• What happens if your placement is deferred?

  If your placement is deferred for any reason (e.g. placement provider cancellation or withdrawal due to illness), you may retain the amount already received. Further payments will be withheld until you have undertaken an eligible placement for the period equivalent to the amount retained.

• What happens if you withdraw from your course?

  If you withdraw from your course, you’ll become ineligible for the portion of CPP for any weeks of placement you didn’t complete.  

• Do you need to report the CPP to the ATO?

  Yes. The CPP is considered taxable income and you need to declare the CPP you receive to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as part of your annual tax return. You’ll receive a statement at the end of the financial year to assist you in reporting this to the ATO.

  Recipients are responsible for seeking independent financial or tax advice if needed.  

• Do you need to report the CPP to Services Australia?

  If you receive an income support payment (ISP), you need to declare the amount of CPP you receive to Services Australia. You should tell them that you're going to get the CPP as soon as you know the dates of your placement. 

• How will you know how much CPP you received throughout the financial year?

  At the end of each financial year, UTS will notify you how much of the CPP you were paid during that financial year.  

• Does the CPP affect other payments?

  This payment will be available alongside other state and territory initiatives.   

• Can you apply for CPP as a part-time student?

  Yes. You may apply for CPP if you are a part-time student who meets the criteria and is undertaking mandatory placements. 

• If your placement is longer than the required minimum for entry-to-practice, do you get extra payment?

  No. The CPP is capped at the minimum period of placement required to achieve entry-to-practice. You will not be entitled to the CPP for additional placement weeks required to complete your program. 

• Are non-CSP domestic students able to apply?

  No, the CPP is only available for eligible domestic CSP students.

• My CPP application was approved. But now my offer has ‘Lapsed.’ What can I do?

  If your offer has ‘Lapsed’, please contact cppsupport@uts.edu.au for further guidance. Depending on your personal circumstances and ongoing CPP eligibility, you may still be eligible for payment.

• Why do midwifery students have a different CPP model?

  Midwifery students have their own CPP model because midwifery placements are structured differently from other disciplines. They include a mix of clinical hours and continuity of care, which means they need to be assessed in a different way.

  The UTS midwifery CPP model gives us a clear way to work out eligibility and allocate support weeks by subject. It’s designed to make sure midwifery students are assessed fairly, consistently and in line with Australian Government rules, while helping eligible students access more CPP support across their course.

• How are CPP weeks worked out for midwifery students?

  UTS uses a midwifery-specific CPP model to work out support weeks by subject. Allocations are based on the average number of weeks a student is expected to complete 30 hours or more through clinical placement and/or Continuity of Care, in line with the Midwifery Work Integrated Learning calendar.

• If I have back-to-back placements for different subjects, what is my evidentiary period?

  If you have more than 4 weeks between your placements, the evidentiary period must follow the same eligibility requirements for the 'Need to Work and Income' test.

  In the event you have back-to-back placements, where the gap between the placements is less than or equal to four weeks, you can provide the same documentation from the first placement to evidence the subsequent placement. To assist with assessment times, please place a note in the application that this is a back to back application.

• What if my evidentiary period falls during the holiday period?

  According to the government guidelines, if you are lodging an application under the ‘Need to Work’ test, the work undertaken must occur during the most recent study period prior to the placement. You can refer to the UTS academic calendar to find the session start and end dates. For example, if you apply during January your evidentiary period would be the last four weeks of Spring session. 

• Further questions?

  You can also find out more about the CPP on the Australian government’s website or email cppsupport@uts.edu.au with specific enquiries.