HSU Urges Commonwealth Prac Payment for All Allied Health
The Health Services Union (HSU) is calling on the Federal Government to extend its new program supporting students on placements across allied health.
The Commonwealth Prac Payment, which came into effect on July 1, offers $331 a week to eligible teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students undertaking a mandatory placement. The HSU supports this important initiative, and calls for its extension to all allied health students.
Aside from social workers, all allied health students are excluded from the scheme.
Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, podiatrists, pharmacists, radiation therapists and psychologists are among these critical roles in allied health.
Most allied health students endure severe financial hardship while on placements, with some courses requiring as many as 2,300 hours of compulsory prac.
Quotes attributable to HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams:
“The Federal Government’s prac payments will make a huge difference for thousands of students.
“We welcome this move, but it makes no sense that the critical professions that fall under allied health are excluded.
“Leaving allied health behind has a major gender impact because it is a feminised workforce. For example, 98% of speech pathologists are women.
“Some students are travelling hours from home and are forced to pay accommodation and other costs just to complete their mandatory placement with no financial help whatsoever.
“Often they’re completing thousands of hours of placements and taking time off their casual jobs without receiving a cent to help them keep their heads above water.
“Then they’re saddled with massive student debt, which adds another element to placement poverty.
“Workforce shortages across allied health are disrupting hospitals, aged care and the NDIS.
“We risk turning a workforce crisis into a catastrophe if we don’t break down barriers to study like placement poverty.
“The government’s scheme shows it takes this issue seriously, now we need to address the inequality that is being felt by allied health students.”