Commonwealth Prac Payment
The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is provided by the Australian Government to assist eligible students with costs related to mandatory placements in higher education courses for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work.
In 2025, students enrolled in an accredited entry-to-practice degree in nursing, midwifery, social work or teaching may receive $331.65 per week for the duration of their placement.
At Eastern College Australia, this means students enrolled in our Education courses may be eligible to receive this payment to help cover the costs associated with their teaching rounds.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you must meet the enrolment, placement and income eligibility criteria.
Enrolment Criteria
You need to be:
- a domestic student enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP), and
- enrolled (either full-time or part-time) in an eligible teaching degree at Eastern:
Placement Criteria
To be eligible, your placement must meet the following:
- It is a mandatory placement that is part of your course requirements
- It takes place on or after 1 July 2025
- It involves an average of 30 hours or more per week over the placement period
- It does not exceed the maximum number of weeks of CPP support available for your course
Course type | Total available funded CPP weeks |
|---|---|
Teacher Education (Bachelor) | 16 |
Teacher Education (Masters) | 12 |
Income Test
- You receive a Centrelink income support payment, Veterans’ Affairs payment, or an ABSTUDY living allowance
- You are employed and working more than 15 hours per week on average, and earning on average less than $1,500 per week (before tax, including all sources of income) over the four weeks before you apply for the CPP or begin your placement – whichever comes first.
- Exceptional circumstances: If your situation does not meet the above criteria but you are still in financial need, you may still be considered. In this case, please contact the Registrar at registrar@eastern.edu.au. The Registrar will assess your situation and, if appropriate, submit an application on your behalf with the required supporting documentation.
Supporting Documents You will need to provide documents based on how you meet the eligibility criteria:
- If you receive Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs support: Submit either your Centrelink payment details or a Centrelink Income Statement
- If you are applying based on your work situation: Submit payslips, payroll summaries, or timesheets showing hours worked and pay for four continuous weeks
- If you are applying under exceptional circumstances: Please contact the Registrar at registrar@eastern.edu.au, as they will need to submit the application on your behalf. You may be asked to provide detailed, date-specific documents that clearly explain your situation — such as a letter from a social worker or financial counsellor. General documents like prescriptions, test results or referral letters are not sufficient.
Exceptional Circumstances
If you believe you may be eligible under exceptional circumstances, please contact the Registrar at registrar@eastern.edu.au, as they will need to submit the application on your behalf.
To qualify under exceptional circumstances, your situation must have affected your ability to meet the income test during the required evidence period, while you were continuing your normal study.
Exceptional circumstances must fall into one of the following categories:
- A disability that requires reasonable adjustments
- A health or medical condition that affects you directly
- A serious personal or family issue
- Please note: General caring responsibilities are not considered exceptional unless they are unusual, irregular, or out of your control.
Applications based on exceptional circumstances will be referred to the Department of Education for final assessment. Where possible, please allow at least four weeks before your placement begins to ensure adequate time for review.
You may be asked to provide supporting documents. These must be up to date, clearly explain your situation, and be written specifically for your CPP application — for example, a letter from a health professional, counsellor or social worker. General documents like prescriptions, test results, or referral letters will not be accepted.
How to apply
Once your placement dates are confirmed, and you believe you meet the eligibility criteria with all required documentation ready, you can submit your application.
More information
For further information about the CPP, please email registrar@eastern.edu.au. You can also read more on the Australian Government website.
