Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I too welcome the member for Indi's topic for debate today, because it truly is a matter of public importance. I really appreciate, as well, the contributions from those opposite who obviously have a really strong passion for education and further investment in education as well. But our young people are doing it tough right now, and the lack of financial support for students doing mandatory prac placements is an important aspect of this. Today's generation of students are navigating an environment of high living costs—the costs of rent, groceries, transport and utilities—and this leaves students across the country struggling to make ends meet.

On top of these financial challenges, mandatory placements are forcing students into real hardship right now, because of the inability to earn an income over long periods of full-time practical training and because of the need to pay rent, sometimes on top of their usual rent. For many the choice is stark—sacrifice basic needs or jeopardise their education. Too often, young students are skipping meals, living in their cars and making the difficult choice about whether or not to give up on their dreams and drop out of their studies completely. They are being forced into vulnerable situations. This growing economic strain threatens not only student wellbeing and safety but also the sustainability of our future health workforce.

The introduction of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme on 1 July this year was timely, necessary and very welcome. Supporting nurses, midwives, social workers and teachers during their compulsory placements has been widely welcomed as a positive step towards addressing acute workforce shortages in schools, hospitals and aged care. While this targeted measure aims to boost enrolments and retention in these critical sectors, it disregards comparable placement demands and workforce shortages in other disciplines. For thousands of students undertaking allied health and medical degrees, amongst other things, compulsory unpaid placements mean financial stress, emotional strain and physical exhaustion. And they are not alone; it's also impacting students in veterinary sciences, engineering and agriculture, amongst many others.

The focus of our debate today is allied health, so I'm going to read out some testimonials from people who are currently studying medical radiation science, dietetics and occupational therapy—professions vital to medical diagnosis, cancer treatment and chronic disease prevention and management. One student stated:

I go without food, and work outside of placement hours to afford accommodation—this cycle is exhausting and restrains my time to study whilst on placement.

Another said:

Being able to work and support myself during a full time 36-week placement has been virtually impossible and incredibly stressful. It has had a huge impact on my mental health.

Another said:

I feel extremely burnt out and exhausted and struggle to apply myself on placement academically.

Another said:

There is an assumption that we all live at home with parents that can afford to support us, when many of us don't. I feel that financial stress has greatly impacted by grades and health over the placements these past three years.

I have considered dropping out many times …

Lastly, another said:

There are people who are living in their car so they can afford to be on placement.

These are not isolated stories. They paint a dire picture—students facing homelessness, skipping meals and living in unsafe conditions right now. We are burning out our young people before they even start their careers. How can this be acceptable?

By not supporting our allied health and medical students, we are jeopardising the development of the future health workforce Australia desperately needs. Allied health professionals, collectively, are the largest health workforce in primary care. They represent the second-largest clinical workforce in Australia, after nursing and midwifery. Mackellar student Courtney, who is currently on placement in Ballarat as part of her masters of dietetics, said that many allied health students feel that their ineligibility for the prac payment is a kick in the guts that some professions are more valued than others.

Let's ensure that no student is forced to choose between living in their car and their education. I urge the government to develop a roadmap that lays out a pathway to add all courses that have mandatory prac components to the scheme, including allied health and medical students. If we fail to act, we not only fail these students, but the future health of our nation.

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