In mid-July SPA, other allied health peaks and Allied Health Professions Australia, joined Dr Monique Ryan, MP, and Senator David Pocock in advocating for the Commonwealth Prac Payment for allied health students.
The Commonwealth Prac Payment remained a hot topic in Parliament last week:
- Dr Monique Ryan (Member for Kooyong) spoke about the need for reform of the Commonwealth Prac Payment to address placement poverty for speech pathology students
- Dr Sophie Scamps (Member for Mackellar) also discussed the need for expansion of the Prac Payment to allied health students, as these workforces are in short supply.
- Dr Helen Haines (Member for Indi) highlighted the need to expand the Prac Payment to allied health students to ensure they are not disadvantaged and forced to give up their studies.
- Senator Sarah Henderson highlighted the inequity faced by students who cannot access the Prac Payment, including those in allied health disciplines.
We have written to key politicians and Ministers about the Prac Payment, and will continue advocating for speech pathology students to be included.