Tue 1 July 2025
AdPha urges Commonwealth Prac payments include pharmacy students
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today is calling on the Albanese Government to urgently extend the new Commonwealth Prac Payments to include pharmacy students, who are currently excluded from the scheme.
Starting today, the payment provides $331.65 per week to support students undertaking unpaid mandatory placements — but only those studying to become teachers, nurses, midwives, or social workers are eligible.
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) said pharmacy students, who are also required to complete extensive unpaid placements, deserve equal recognition and support.
‘Pharmacy students undertake full-time mandatory placements that are often far from home and entirely unpaid — placing enormous financial pressure on them and their families.
‘There is no justifiable reason to exclude pharmacy students. Like their nursing and teaching peers, they are fulfilling essential workforce training requirements and should be supported accordingly.’
Mr Simpson warned that failing to include pharmacy in the program could further undermine efforts to address critical workforce shortages.
‘With hospital and community pharmacy under increasing strain and existing workforce shortages expected to worsen, the Government should be doing more — not less — to support future pharmacists.
‘We commend the investment in other health and care professions, but it’s not too late to do the right thing and include pharmacy students. This is a chance to show genuine commitment to Australia’s future pharmacy workforce.’