To be eligible for the CPP, you must be:  

1. A domestic student studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).  
2. Completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an eligible nursing, midwifery, social work or teaching course.  
3. Either receiving an eligible Centrelink Income Support Payment (ISP) or meet both the Need to Work Test and Income Test.  
4. Undertaking a mandatory placement that meets one of the following criteria:
   • Placement of at least 30 hours or more per week for the duration of the placement; or  
   • For midwifery students, undertaking a Continuity of Care placement, which has alternate criteria.  

Midwifery Placements Continuity of Care Placement

Please visit the Department of Education webpage for more information.

 

Education

• CM43 Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
• CC12 Bachelor of Education (Primary)
• CC14 Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
• CC13 Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• CL05 Master of Teaching (Secondary)
• CC45 Master of Teaching (Primary)

Midwifery

• CM16 Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry)

Nursing

• CL91 Bachelor of Nursing
• CM73 Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
• CM77 Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse Pathway)
• CH79 Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry)

Social Work

• CL71 Bachelor of Social Work

 

 

 

Eligible Commonwealth Income Support Payments (ISP)

Centrelink ISP:

• Age Pension  
• Austudy  
• Carer Payment  
• Disability Support Pension  
• JobSeeker Payment  
• Parenting Payment  
• Special Benefit  
• Farm Household Allowance  
• Youth Allowance  

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) payments:

• Age Pension  
• Income Support Supplement  
• Service Pension  
• Veteran Payment  
• Education Allowance  

ABSTUDY:

• ABSTUDY Living Allowance  

If you receive an Income Support Payment from Services Australia, you MUST inform Services Australia once you are receiving the CPP. Learn about when and how to report at Services Australia.  

Need to Work Test

If you are not receiving an ISP, you will need to meet the Need to Work Test. This means you will need to supply documentation to confirm that you have worked 60 hours over 4 consecutive weeks, averaging 15 hours per week. This must occur in the four weeks before you apply for the CPP, or in the four weeks prior to the commencement of your placement, whichever occurs first.  

Income Test 

If you do meet the Need to Work Test, you will also need to meet the Income Test. This means you will need to show that you have not earned more than AU$1,500 per week (before tax), on average, during the same four week period, including all income types (e.g. scholarships, bursaries).  

If you receive any other sources of income, including scholarships, bursaries, and subsidies from any university or government source paid directly to you, you will need to provide the amount, frequency, and dates of the payment in your application.  

Eligible Commonwealth Income Support Payments (ISP)

You need to demonstrate you receive an ISP by providing a Centrelink Income Statement or DVA Payment Summary.

Need to Work Test and Income Test

You need to demonstrate you meet both of the following:  

• The Need to Work Test: You must show that you usually work more than 15 hours per week during your studies. 
• The Income Test: Your total income over a four-week period must be less than AU$1,500 per week (before tax).  

You’ll need to provide supporting documents such as payslips, payroll records, or invoices (if self-employed).  

Exceptional Circumstances

Exceptional circumstances are circumstances which are:

If you don’t meet the standard eligibility criteria but face significant barriers to completing your placement, you may still be eligible. You’ll need to provide documentation, and your case will be assessed individually.

 If the University determines that your circumstances may meet the criteria, your application and supporting documentation will be submitted to the Department of Education (DoE) for final approval.

The categories for exceptional circumstances are:  

• Disability: where the circumstances of an applicant with a disability are such that they are unable to meet the eligibility requirements of the CPP.
• Health and Medical: where an applicant’s medical condition is such that they are unable to meet the eligibility requirements of the CPP.  
• Acute personal or family life event: where an applicant is experiencing significant personal or family impacts on themselves or someone who has significant relationship to them.

Applicants must be enrolled in a placement unit before applying for CPP. Ensure you have enrolled in a placement unit in the MyCQU student portal before you begin the application process. 

The application form is available from MyCQU. Visit the Support view, then Student Forms, and search for 'CPP'. 

CQUniversity will work within Australian Government eligibility criteria to assess applications and award Commonwealth Prac Payments.