APA welcomes physiotherapy’s inclusion in Commonwealth Prac Payments extension

Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an expansion of payments for health professionals undertaking clinical and professional placements to include physiotherapy and several other allied health professions.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes this decision, which will ensure more equitable access to those interested in studying physiotherapy and give physiotherapy students across Australia much-needed financial relief as they complete mandatory, unpaid clinical placements. 

APA National President Dr Rik Dawson said that the decision to expand Prac Payments to include physiotherapy and numerous other allied health professionals is a promising step towards creating a more sustainable, equitable allied health workforce. 

‘Today’s decision to expand access to Prac Payments is not only a great outcome for thousands of allied health students across Australia in need of support, it’s also a great outcome for the future of Australia’s allied health workforce, and the broader Australian health system.’

‘Clinical placements have long been a necessary part of the path of becoming a physiotherapist, but undertaking these placements, which are unpaid, mandatory and often in rural or regional areas, puts many students, especially those from more challenging socio-economic backgrounds, under enormous financial strain,’ said Dr Dawson.

‘I have been lucky enough to meet and speak with physiotherapy students across Australia who have shared their stories with me, and what I continue to hear is that ‘placement poverty’ has made studying physiotherapy and other allied health professions nearly impossible for those who cannot afford to undertake unpaid work.’ 

‘This includes a disproportionate number of people from rural, First Nations and lower-income backgrounds, effectively excluding them from these professions. This has only exacerbated workforce shortages, especially in at-risk areas, and perpetuated the cycle of poverty,’ said Dr Dawson. ‘Today’s decision will go a long way towards remedying these challenges.’

‘Earlier this year, alongside our APA early career representative, I accompanied Members of Parliament Monique Ryan, David Pocock and Helen Haines to launch Allied Health Professions Australia’s (AHPA) petition calling for the expansion of government Prac Payments to allied health students,’ said Dr Dawson. ‘In the time since, the petition has amassed more than 51,000 signatures, showing just how popular and necessary this expansion is.’ 

Jianqi Li knows how hard the placement financial strain is on students, after completing his clinical placement in rural QLD in 2025. Joining Dr Dawson in Canberra earlier this year as the APA’s early career representative, Jianqi emphasised how effective this targeted financial support could be for students. 

‘I completed over 1000 hours of unpaid placements last year in rural Queensland, which required paying double rent, travel to and from placement, and to cover the costs of daily living. This expansion to include physiotherapy and other allied health professions is a great step towards ending student placement poverty, and allows our workforce to continue supporting regional and rural communities where allied health practitioners are desperately needed,’ Jianqi said.

‘Today’s decision is a significant step towards ensuring that those who need it can access financial support to undertake their placements,’ said APA Student Representative Benjamin Ong. 

‘This will, in turn, reduce dropout rates, improve equity and access for healthcare students, benefit rural and regional communities where allied health practitioners are desperately needed, and, ultimately, strengthen the next generation of the physiotherapy workforce.’