The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) is a payment to help certain students with the cost of doing mandatory prac placements as part of their tertiary course.
In most cases, you’ll get your CPP from your education provider.
If you get the CPP and an income support payment from us, you must tell us about your CPP payment. This helps us adjust your income support payment if we need to so you avoid a debt.
You must do this each time you start a new prac and get CPP.
How to tell us about your payment
You can report your CPP as income online, by phone or in person.
Tell us online
Report your CPP online through your Centrelink online account through myGov or Express Plus Centrelink app.
For type of income, choose any other income.
For short description, enter Comm Prac Payment.
For Name of persons or organisations who pay you, enter your university, TAFE or registered training organisation.
If you got a one-off payment, you don’t need to do anything further. This is because we know the date of your first and last payments.
If your CPP will be split into more than one payment, you’ll need to tell us when you’ll get your last payment. You can’t report this online, you’ll need to report by phone or in person at a service centre.
Learn more about how to update your income and assets details online.
Tell us by phone
To report your CPP as income by phone, call the Youth and students line.
You’ll need to have your Customer Reference Number (CRN).
You’ll also need to have the details of your CPP ready, such as:
- how much you’ll be paid
- how often you’ll be paid
- when your payments will start and stop.
Tell us in person
To report your CPP as income in person, you’ll need to visit one of our service centres. You’ll need to take your Customer Reference Number (CRN) with you.
You’ll also need to have the details of your CPP on hand, such as:
- how much you’ll be paid
- how often you’ll be paid
- when your payments will start and stop.
To tell us in person, find a service centre near you
Ask for help or more information about the CPP
If you’re doing a Diploma of Nursing through TAFE or a registered training organisation, you can do either of the following to get help or more information about CPP:
- contact your education provider
- look at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ website.
If you’re doing a Bachelor or Masters of Teaching, Nursing. Social Work or Midwifery, you can do either of the following to get help or more information about CPP:
- contact your education provider
- look at the Department of Education’s website.