The Coalition would cut $556 million from the Albanese government’s ‘prac payment’ program for tertiary students in nursing, midwifery, social work and teaching.
In its costings, released on Thursday, the Coalition indicated they would look to create savings in the budget by cutting funds from the student program.
The prac payments are set to come into play from July 2025 under the Albanese government’s plan to provide students with $332 per week to support with living costs during mandatory placements.
The payment covers eligible domestic students undertaking a mandatory placement in a Bachelor’s or Master’s of nursing, midwifery, teaching or social work, or a diploma of nursing. These courses are heavily dominated by women.
The policy move from the Albanese government recognised the “placement poverty” that places significant financial burdens on teaching, nursing and social work students, who have had to complete hundreds of hours of unpaid work to receive their qualifications. It was based on recommendations from the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce and the Universities Accord.
The Coalition’s plan to cut more than half a billion dollars from the program, just two days before the federal election, will hit young women the hardest.
President of the National Tertiary Education Union, Dr Alison Barnes, said Peter Dutton had silently committed to taking money away from tertiary students.
“If Peter Dutton wants to take money out of the pockets of trainee nurses, midwives, social workers and teachers they should look them in the eyes and say it, not hide it in an eleventh hour document that’s been dumped to reporters within 48 hours off the poll,” Dr Barnes said on Friday.
“These students have just completed three or four years of full-time study, in areas of real need for our community and economy. This is just the latest example of where Peter Dutton is targeting students and our universities and TAFES. Now, however, he has silently committed to taking money out of students’ back pockets.”
In nursing, nearly 90 per cent of the workforce in Australia are women, according to statistics from the Department of Health and Aged Care, and more than three quarters (76 per cent) of Australian teachers are women.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Federal Secretary Annie Butler said she was concerned about the Coalition’s plan to axe the program.
“We know that placement poverty is a real issue for students who lose income from their regular paid jobs and then have to pay for a whole range of everyday costs, like finding an affordable rental property, parking, tolls, childcare, uniforms and other clinical tools whilst they’re training,” Butler said.
“It’s certainly impacted our ability to build the nursing and midwifery workforce, with students forced to quit their courses and abandon their chosen profession.
“That’s why the Commonwealth prac placement, which will be implemented by the Albanese Government, is so welcome as it will help alleviate the financial burden experienced by students as they complete their essential clinical training – and in turn, will encourage a generation of new students into nursing and midwifery.
“The ANMF has experienced a Government with Peter Dutton as Health Minister, which didn’t go well for nurses, midwives and care-workers. We’re concerned that a Government led by Peter Dutton wouldn’t be any different. The ANMF has been asking Peter Dutton and the Coalition if they’re supporting nurses and midwives this Election – now we know the answer.”
Become a Women’s Agenda Foundation member and support our work! We are 100% independent and women-owned. Every day, we cover the news from a women’s perspective, advocating for women’s safety, economic security, health and opportunities. Foundation memberships are currently just $5 a month.
Bonus: you’ll receive our weekly editor’s wrap of the key stories to know every Saturday.