Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

Well, if you're asking me for a story, I'll give you a story. Here's some more good news: 20,000 young Australian nursing students have now got paid prac. That's real cost-of-living help, real financial, help to get you through your practical training.

My overly anxious friends opposite want a story. Here's the story of Samantha. She lives in Bundoora, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. She does her paid prac at the Royal Women's Hospital in the city. That's two trains and one bus from home. Sometimes she finishes her shift at 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock—sometimes midnight. I asked her the other day, 'What does paid prac mean for you?' She said it meant she could afford an Uber. She said it meant peace of mind. She said it meant getting home safe at night. Just think about that. Samantha is training to do one of the most important jobs in the world. Getting her home safe is the least we can do.

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