STUDENTS WELCOME EXPANSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH PRAC PAYMENT
Cost of living relief for students training in national skills shortage fields
With
Dr Rik Dawson,
APA Gerontological Physiotherapist &
National President,
Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) &
Postdoctoral Researcher
Institute for Musculoskeletal Health,
University of Sydney
Jianqi Li, new graduate physiotherapist
Early Career Representative, Australian Physiotherapy Association
Benjamin Tze Yong Ong, Final-year physiotherapy student,
University of Queensland & APA National Student Representative
Mia Avram
Fourth-year pharmacy student at Monash University &
National President,
National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA)
Divya Lal, Community Pharmacist &
NSW/ACT State Manager,
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney & Brisbane | August 2026
The Australian Government is expanding the Commonwealth Prac Payment to eligible students in 10 additional frontline allied health disciplines, providing financial support during mandatory university placements.
From 1 July 2027, eligible students studying audiology, pharmacy, radiography, clinical psychology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation therapies, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology and paramedicine will be able to access the payment.
The expansion builds on the payment currently available to eligible teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students, and is expected to support around 95,000 students each year, including an additional 21,000 higher education students in frontline allied health courses.
The Government says the initiative will help address workforce shortages by supporting students to complete their studies and enter frontline health professions, particularly in areas such as primary care, hospitals, aged care, disability and regional communities.
Australian Health Journal spoke with representatives of two industry bodies who lobbied for the expansion, Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) & Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
Source: Adapted from the “Expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment Factsheet”, July 2026, Department of Education, Australian Government
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Recognising service in health regulation
In April 2023, Professor John Skerritt retired from his position of Deputy Secretary Health Products Regulation Group, a role he has been in since 2012. During his time at the TGA he had line responsibility for over 1200 staff involved in the regulation of therapeutic goods, regulation of gene technology and industrial chemicals and control of drug import, export and production.
At this year’s ARCS 2023 Conference, ARCS Australia CEO Dr Shanny Dyer paid tribute to Professor Skerritt and his service to the Australian health industry. She led a tribute with fellow industry heads, Elizabeth de Somer, CEO, Medicines Australia, Anne Harris, Managing Director, Pfizer Australia & New Zealand, Deon Schoombie, CEO, Consumer Healthcare Products Australia, Ian Burgess, CEO, Medical Technology Association of Australia and Arthur Brandwood, President ARCS Australia.
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Early detection & surveillance guides for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer remains one of Australia’s deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates hovering at just 14%, with little improvement over several decades. Often called the ‘silent killer’, the disease frequently presents with minimal or vague symptoms, resulting in late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Pancare Foundation is leading the rollout of new clinical resources and surveillance guides to support healthcare professionals in identifying at-risk patients and promoting early detection.
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Pharmacy led men’s urological health
Men’s urological needs refer to the medical and surgical conditions that affect the male urinary tract system and reproductive organs.
A urologist can address these concerns, however a pharmacy-led model of care developed by Brad Butt, called Mens Health Downunder has offered an alternative to certain urological needs of the male adult population over the past 10 years.
Australian Health Journal met with Brad to hear about his journey, Mens Health Downunder and the impact the pharmacy-led model of care has had on patient’s urological as well as mental health.
