Thank you speaker.  

I am pleased to speak about the work of Allied Health Professions Australia who, today, have officially launched a national petition calling on the Government to expand Commonwealth prac payments to all allied health and medical students.  

Every Australian interacts with allied health and medical graduates. When we get an x-ray, fill a prescription, see a GP, or check in with a psychologist, medical and allied health professionals look after Australians at all ages and stages of our lives.  

To complete their training, allied health and medical students need to complete hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of hours of mandatory unpaid practical placements.  

Prac placements are like apprenticeships – students are learning and practising their skills while caring for us, under supervision. In their final year of study, students are expected to use basic skills to diagnose and treat patients. 

Placements are essential training for our health workforce. But they also put significant financial pressure on students, sometimes resulting in students skipping meals, sleeping in cars, or unfortunately, dropping out of their courses altogether. As cost-of-living pressures rise, so do these financial pressures on students.  

I have previously spoken in this place about healthcare students in Indi, including Gemma who is studying diagnostic radiography, Darcy a physiotherapy student, and Zac studying dentistry.   

I’ve also recently heard from Alex from Wangaratta, a fourth-year medical student who will undertake 25-35 hours per week of unpaid placement this year.  

These students have all told me that undertaking unpaid placement has caused significant financial stress.  

And unfortunately, their stories are not unique.  

A national placement poverty survey from the Health Students Alliance found 81% of students took unpaid leave to undertake placement, and 78% of students struggled to pay bills due to placement. Concerningly, 53% considered leaving their degree due to the burden of placement.  

At this time of urgent health workforce shortages, particularly in rural and regional areas, we cannot let financial pressures prevent or delay students from completing health degrees.  

Expanding Commonwealth Prac Payments to include all allied health and medical students is a practical solution giving our future health workforce the financial support they need to complete their degrees.  

Alongside Senator Pocock, I am pleased to co-sponsor Allied Health Professions Australia’s petition to expand prac payments.  

I urge everyone to sign this petition and share it with your friends and family.  

Let’s look after the next generation of medical professionals – they will one day look after us.