PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Mr SOON (Banks) (13:07): It was this Labor government that, in 2024, introduced the Commonwealth paid prac payment for students in teaching, nursing, social work and midwifery courses. In doing so, the federal government provided financial support to students completing their mandatory practical training—support that hadn't existed previously and had proven, for generations of students, to be a challenge for so many Australians.

Both the 2023 employment white paper and the universities accord highlighted the fact that unpaid practical training put significant financial pressures on students that they don't need while they are completing such an important part of their qualifications. As a result, the Commonwealth paid prac payment is a much-needed, first-of-its-kind initiative to address a very real issue of placement poverty, and many of the stories I've heard from students both young and old in my electorate of Banks demonstrate why this program is so valuable and so necessary.

I've heard about students needing to take extended leave without pay from their existing part-time employment, and about some even having to quit, and about students who couldn't find or afford a place to stay during their placement and had to sleep in their cars. Students in these qualifications now and from the past know that this program is making a real difference.

It is allowing local students to train for some of the most in-demand jobs in our communities without having to face the pressure of paying the bills and the rent alone. Since the program commenced about 15 months ago, more than 6,000 students in nursing alone have received support totalling more than $10 million. Of course, those nursing students studying at TAFE have benefited from Labor's fee-free TAFE as well.

Put simply, the Commonwealth paid prac payment is making the lives of thousands of Australians that have committed to making the lives of communities better, and that is why this Labor government is expanding it. From 1 July next year, eligible students in training for 10 more key frontline allied health professions will be able to access paid prac, including paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, radiographers and more.

Following this announcement in July, I visited Enunciate Allied Health Services in Mortdale, alongside the Minister for Health. The minister and I were able to meet with the founder of Enunciate, Chauntell and her team, including speech pathologists and occupational therapists. All of them spoke about how valuable their placement experience was to their professional development, but they also spoke about the challenges they face.

Some had to take their placement outside of Sydney and move at very short notice. Some had to rely on their parents to make it financially viable. It shouldn't have to be this hard to get qualified for jobs we desperately need more qualified people to do.

Importantly, both speech pathology and occupational therapy are included in the 10 new courses eligible for the paid prac payment. This expansion of paid prac isn't just about making education more attainable; it is also about making our healthcare workforce stronger in the way only Labor governments are committed to do, with $158 million of investment ensuring that local students and local talent can fill the jobs we need most in our healthcare system.

The paid prac program invests in health care, education, skills and our students all at once, which is why it is no surprise that, at the last election, the Liberals and the Nationals wanted to cut it. They may have buried it deep in the fine print of their pre-election costings, but we know that, when it comes to being stewards for our education and healthcare systems, only Labor can be trusted.

This government is committed to making the lives of Australians easier. This government is committed to supporting students, and we are committed to strengthening our healthcare workforce for our communities for the future.