The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) welcomes today’s announcement by the Albanese Government of Budget funding to alleviate placement poverty by providing prac payments to midwifery students undertaking mandatory workplace placements required for their university degree.
The new payment of almost $320 per week, also eligible to nursing, teaching and social work students, will be available from July 1 2025 and will be rolled out as part of the Government’s focus on easing cost of living pressures.
ACM Chief Midwife Alison Weatherstone said, “placement payments are sorely needed, as we have heard from our midwifery students and members time and time again. ACM has advocated consistently for placement funding for midwifery students to assist with future workforce stability that benefits all Australians.”
“This funding also recognises the value of our profession and is a step towards gender equity for our predominantly female workforce and the women we care for.”
This funding will help students like Belinda who told us ‘ It took us 6 years to climb out of the financial hole our family was in from my Bachelor of Midwifery’ or Rosalynde, ‘I could have stayed in my midwifery degree if I had been able to pay for childcare while on placement’. These payments will make a big difference to combatting workforce pressures by retaining midwifery students in their degrees.
Alison Weatherstone said “ACM thanks the Albanese Government for prioritising these predominantly feminised workforces with funding for placements. This is a fantastic outcome.”