A $331 per week ‘Prac Payment’ to support student nurses and midwives during clinical placements, set to come into effect in July, would be axed under a Dutton government, costings released just two days out from the federal election have revealed.
A range of other cuts, aimed at improving the nation’s budget bottom line, include getting rid of key Labor policies such as fee-free TAFE and a 20% reduction in HELP or student loan debt.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), which has long advocated for the ‘Prac Payment’ to help alleviate widespread ‘placement poverty’ experienced by student nurses and midwives and help them complete their studies, said it was deeply concerned about the negative impacts of the plan.
“We know that placement poverty is a real issue for students who lose income from their regular paid jobs and then have to pay for a range of everyday costs, like finding an affordable rental property, parking, tolls, childcare, uniforms and other clinical tools whilst they’re training,” ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said.
“It’s certainly impacted our ability to build the nursing and midwifery workforce, with students forced to quit their courses and abandon their chose profession.”
From July this year, eligible student nurses and midwives will receive just over $331 while undertaking their mandatory 800 hours-plus of clinical placements as part of their courses.
According to the Opposition, the ‘Prac Payment’ will be switched to a loan that needs to be paid back, rather than a grant, to cut costs.
Ms Butler said the Coalition’s plans would combine to have a devastating impact on the next generation of nurses and midwives, meaning that the professions “couldn’t risk a government led by Peter Dutton”.
“The Government has experienced a government with Peter Dutton as Health Minister, which didn’t go down well for nurses, midwives and care workers. We’re concerned that a government led by Peter Dutton wouldn’t be any different. The ANMF has been asking Peter Dutton and the Coalition if they’re supporting nurses and midwives in this election – now we know the answer.”
The Coalition’s sweeping cuts to education also came under fire from other leading unions.
Australian Education Union (AEU) president Correna Haythorpe said the policy costings would negatively impact teaching students and graduates amid a national shortage.
“These are disappointing and short-sighted cuts the Coalition will make, if elected,” she said.
Australian Services Union (ASU) NSW and ACT Secretary Angus McFarland claimed a Dutton-Coalition government would “trap” students in placement poverty by scrapping the vital cost-of-living payment even before it had begun.
“Instead of supporting students and young people with the cost of living, Peter Dutton and the Coalition plan to deny students critical relief, trapping them into poverty while they complete mandatory unpaid placements. The Coalition’s alternative is just more financial distress now and down the track,” he said.
“This is a direct attack on students during a cost-of-living crisis. It shows complete disregard for these essential sectors — that are female-dominated — and for the students preparing to enter them. We need nurses, we need teachers, we need social workers.”
