Paid student placements: A win for IEU members and the future of education

Thanks to the united efforts of union members and student activists, the Federal Government has announced the Commonwealth Practicum Payment, which will provide eligible students with $319.50 per week during mandatory placements, starting 1 July 2025.

This long-overdue win will support around 68,000 university students and 5,000 VET students studying teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work. It’s a huge step towards recognising that placements are real work that deserves real support.

The payment targets students who:

• Already receive Australian Government income support, or

• Need to work 15+ hours a week just to stay afloat while studying.

We know these students often face crushing financial pressure during placements – juggling unpaid work, rising costs, and fewer hours to earn a living. The Government is investing $427.4 million to deliver this change, after years of relentless advocacy by the IEU and the broader union movement.

Our voices – especially those of IEU student members – made it impossible to ignore the injustice any longer. While this is a huge win, the fight isn’t over. The IEU continues to push for more support, particularly for students doing rural and remote placements where financial pressure can be even greater.

This victory proves what we already know: when union members organise, campaign, and speak out, we change lives.