newy.com.au – More than 2380 University of Newcastle students are expected to benefit from the Federal Government’s expansion of placement payments to a further 10 frontline health professions.
The Commonwealth Prac Payment will be extended to students undertaking mandatory placements in clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapies, audiology and podiatry.
The decision is expected to ease financial pressure on students who must complete lengthy clinical placements, sometimes requiring them to relocate temporarily while continuing to meet living costs.
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said the expanded payment would improve access to health degrees and help students complete essential workplace training.
“The expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment will make a meaningful difference to students undertaking extended clinical placements as part of their studies,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“Many of our health students complete hundreds of hours of placement and, in some cases, need to relocate for the duration of these vital practical experiences.”
Professor Zelinsky said the measure would also support efforts to build the health workforce needed across the Hunter, Central Coast and regional NSW as demand for healthcare continued to grow.
“Placements are a critical part of preparing students for their future professions and critical to ensuring we can continue to build the skilled workforce needed to meet growing healthcare demand,” he said.
University of Newcastle Head of School of Health Sciences Professor Bronwyn Hemsley said students needed to spend weeks at a time in workplaces to gain the skills and competencies required for safe and effective practice.
“This funding will help more students to cover their living expenses while on placement, to complete their degrees,” Professor Hemsley said.
She said the financial burden of extended placements had been particularly acute for some students outside metropolitan areas.
“We’ve heard that some regional students are going without food or medicines due to the financial impacts of long placements, so this funding is going to make a big difference to them.”
