Medical Students Miss Out as Prac Payment Expands to More Health Courses
23 Jul 2026
From 1 July 2027, eligible students studying clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapies, audiology and podiatry will be able to receive up to $338.60 per week during their required clinical and professional placements.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the expansion is designed to strengthen Australia's future healthcare workforce by helping more students complete their training.
While the announcement has been welcomed across many allied health professions, medical student representatives say future doctors continue to face significant financial pressure during unpaid placements.
The Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) said many medical students struggle to balance placement requirements with paid work, with some experiencing financial hardship while completing their degrees. According to AMSA, medical students complete up to 4,000 hours of clinical placements, the highest placement requirement across Australian healthcare degrees.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright also expressed concern about the decision, saying unpaid placements can create financial barriers, particularly for students from rural, regional and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. He said medical degrees are among the longest training programs, making the financial impact even greater.
AMSA and the RACGP are now calling on the Federal Government to include medical students in the Commonwealth Prac Payment to ensure future doctors receive the same financial support available to students in other health professions.
Medical Students Miss Out as Prac Payment Expands to More Health Courses
Source: newsGP