Students undertaking placement are nervous about the cost-of-living, despite the Albanese government’s promise to pay students from July next year.
The government has pledged to pay students studying teaching, nursing and social work undergoing placement $319.50 per week from July of 2025, but students are feeling the pressure.
Nursing student Will George believes the government’s promise should come sooner.
“I finish university before the payments are implemented, so I miss out completely,” Mr George said.
“You spend four weeks of working all day, every day, and you’re receiving absolutely no money at all.
“There’s this mum in my class. She was struggling so much to support not just herself but her kids as well.”
Students are arguing the weekly amount is not enough, especially in a time where rental prices are at an all-time high.
It costs an average of $750 a week to rent a house in Sydney alone, over double what the government has promised.
Minister for Education Jason Claire said he has heard first-hand stories from students struggling with unpaid placements across the country.
“Some students say prac means they have to give up their part-time job and that they don’t have the money to pay the bills,” Mr Claire said.
“Placement poverty is a real thing. I have met students who told me they can afford to go to uni, but they can’t afford to do the prac.”
Students are suggesting the paid placements be moved forward, as well as raising the payment.
