Pathways to Practice - Placement Scholarship

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for this grant you must:

Available to: Commencing Students, Continuing Students
Study Mode: Online, On Campus, Mixed Mode
Campus: Albury-Wodonga; Bathurst; Dubbo; Orange; Port Macquarie; Wagga Wagga
Value:  $338.60 per week of placement, benchmarked to the single AUSTUDY rate and indexed 1 January each year to a maximum of $2,709.20 per year.

First Nations Students:

To be eligible for this grant you must:

• Be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in an undergraduate or postgraduate course
• Undertaking a subject for which Work Integrated Learning attendance is compulsory and the placement must be a minimum of 28 hours.
• Continuing students must have a current academic progress status of Satisfactory as defined by Charles Sturt University's Academic Progress Procedure. Students with a progress status of Monitor or Exclude are not eligible until their status returns to Satisfactory
• You must not be in receipt of a Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) or Paramedicine Prac Payment (PPP) for the same subject.

Provide evidence of Financial Hardship through:

• A Commonwealth Income Support Payment (for example ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance) - see FAQs for full list of eligible payments.
  OR
• Meeting a means-testing criteria based on:
  • a "need to work test" showing that you need to work during your normal studies by demonstrating you worked on average, more than 15 hours per week during session across all employment, in the four weeks prior to applying.
    AND
  • You did not earn more than $1,536.37 per week (pre-tax)* across all employment during the same period (including the average weekly sum of any payments made for any internal or external scholarships, or other income payments).

Preference will be given to:

• Students who are located from a regional area based on the Health Workforce Locator
• Students based on the distance travelled to attend their Work Integrated Learning.
• Students completing their study at an Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) (24+ points per session)
• Have your first-listed address with Charles Sturt University fall within a Low Socio-Economic Status (SES) Statistical Area 1 (SA1) location as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).

Non-First Nations Students:

To be eligible for this grant you must:

• Be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in an undergraduate course.
• Be undertaking a subject for which Work Integrated Learning attendance is compulsory and the placement must be a minimum of 28 hours.
• Continuing students must have a current academic progress status of Satisfactory as defined by Charles Sturt University's Academic Progress Procedure. Students with a progress status of Monitor or Exclude are not eligible until their status returns to Satisfactory
• You must not be in receipt of a Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) or Paramedicine Prac Payment (PPP) for the same subject.
• Have your first-listed address with Charles Sturt University fall within a Low Socio-Economic Status (SES) Statistical Area 1 (SA1) location as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).

Provide evidence of Financial Hardship through:

• A Commonwealth Income Support Payment (for example ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance) - see FAQs for full list of eligible payments
  OR
• Meeting a means-testing criteria based on:
  • a "need to work test" showing that you need to work during your normal studies by demonstrating you worked on average, more than 15 hours per week during session across all employment, in the four weeks prior to applying.
    AND
  • you did not earn more than $1,536.37 per week (pre-tax) across all employment during the same period (including the average weekly sum of any payments made for any internal or external scholarships, or other income payments).

Preference will be given to:

• Students who are located from a regional area based on the Health Workforce Locator
• Students based on the distance travelled to attend their mandatory iWork Integrated Learning.
• Students completing their study at an Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) (24+ points per session).

You may also be able to access the Pathways to Practice – Placement School Scholarship if there are exceptional circumstances.  Please see the guidelines for further details.

If you are seeking assistive funds to attend a mandatory Intensive School please do not apply for this grant. For funds to assist in attending an Intensive School, please apply for the Pathways to Practice - Intensive Schools Scholarship.

Please note:

• Students can only receive one placement grant/scholarship per academic year.
• Students are advised to submit applications once all placements have been confirmed. Please note that the maximum value per year will still apply.
• Placement confirmation is necessary either through InPlace or by submitting a signed Confirmation of Placement form from your subject or workplace coordinator.
• If you are receiving any other scholarships or grants for placement, you may not be eligible for this grant.
• Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours), or a Bachelor of Technology (Civil) / Master of Engineering (Civil) are not eligible to apply for this grant.to be eligible for this grant,
• Students must reside in Australia.  Students who are undertaking their studies whilst residing abroad are not eligible to receive funding.

Guidelines

1. The Pathways to Practice – Placement Scholarship is valued at $338.60 per week (benchmarked to the single Austudy rate and indexed 1 January each year) and will be paid for the duration of the compulsory placements undertaken.
2. Students will receive the payment in advance where possible, however applications that are not submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the commencement of the placement, cannot be guaranteed to receive payment prior to placement.  In such cases, payments will be made as soon as practical following the commencement of the placement.
3. The payment is payable in cash (EFT) to the personal bank account that you have registered with Charles Sturt University. Payment will be processed within 7 business days of offer acceptance and can be made in advance or retrospectively for the previous session only. If you apply for your placement in advance your application will be processed in the offer round prior to your placement.
4. The Scholarships Office will be responsible for the assessment, allocation and administration of this grant, including requests for assessment under Exceptional Circumstances.
5. The University reserves the right to recoup payments if your circumstances change and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria.
6. To be eligible for this grant, applicants must have met all the eligibility criteria by the closing date. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Grants cannot be deferred.
7. The University receives a high volume of applications for grants; meeting the eligibility criteria may not guarantee applicants a grant offer.

Please ensure you attach all relevant supporting documents from the list below based on your circumstances.  Applications submitted without correct or missing supporting documentation will not proceed for assessment.

Financial Need Documentation:

Provide one of the following:

Option 1:

1. A Commonwealth Income Support Payment (for example ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance) - see FAQs for full list of eligible payments

Option 2:

Meeting a means-testing criteria based on:

1. a "need to work test" showing that you need to work during your normal studies by demonstrating you worked on average, more than 15 hours per week during session across all employment, in the four weeks prior to applying.
   AND
2. you did not earn more than $1,536.37 per week (pre-tax) across all employment during the same period (including the average weekly sum of any payments made for any internal or external scholarships, or other income payments).

The following payments are considered to be ISPs for the purposes for Pathways to Practice eligibility:

Centrelink ISP:
Age Pension
Austudy
Carer Payment
Disability Support Pension
JobSeeker Payment
Parenting Payment
Special Benefit
Farm Household Allowance
Youth Allowance

DVA payments:
Age Pension
Income Support Supplement
Service Pension
Veteran Payment
Education Allowance

ABSTUDY
ABSTUDY Living Allowance

Exceptional Circumstances

Students who do not meet eligibility because of the Financial Hardship component due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control can apply for special consideration under the Exceptional Circumstances criteria.

Your application will need to reflect that your eligibility has been impacted by one of the below:

• Disability
• Health and Medical
• Acute Personal or Family Event

Supporting documentation must be provided in the application to outline your exceptional circumstances. Applications for Exceptional Circumstances are assessed on a case-by-case basis and do not guarantee payment to students.

Example documentation:

• Study Access Plan (SAP)
• Medical Certificate
• Statutory Declaration
• Other relevant evidence

Students cannot apply for Exceptional Circumstances based on:

• Not being enrolled in a Commonwealth Support Place (CSP)
• Not being enrolled in the correct level course (i.e. Undergraduate, Postgraduate)
• Not being located in a Low Socio-Economic Status (SES) Statistical Area 1 (SA1) location as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).

Terms and Conditions

By accepting the payment offer, you agree to:

1. Fulfil all requirements as set out in these guidelines;
2. Consent to Charles Sturt University accessing your student records for the purposes of assessing and administering the payment
3. Consent to Charles Sturt University providing the Department of Education with any information relating to your application or study with Charles Sturt University, if requested, for auditing purposes
4. The scholarship office or the Department of Education, making contact with you, where required.
5. Provide any change of individual circumstances in writing to the Scholarships Office scholarships@csu.edu.au;
6. Provide information and participate in surveys for promotional purposes and review of this payment
7. Accept the terms and conditions of this payment.

The University reserves the right to undertake audits of individual student’s records to ensure adherence to these guidelines.

Policy

Charles Sturt University will treat any information provided by the applicant within the terms of relevant privacy legislation. See Charles Sturt University’s privacy policy for further information

Due to privacy laws, any discussion of a payment application or discussion relating to a recipient, will only take place with the payment applicant/recipient, except for the requirement to provide documents to the Department of Education for auditing purposes, if requested.

The information collected will be used by authorised University staff to assess eligibility and administer the scholarship program. The information may also be used for assessment purposes for other scholarships, grants and equity programs across the University. Recipient names and email addresses may be made available to departments within the University for marketing and research purposes. No details will be used externally for any reason without the recipient’s consent. Students should be aware that they provide information of their own free will.

Personal and health information provided by the applicant will not be made available to any person within the University or external organisation for any other purpose without the applicant’s consent, except where it may be a legal requirement of the University to provide information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Having trouble applying?

If you're experiencing issues with your application, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Use Google Chrome as your browser (or switch to another browser if you're already using Chrome).
• Clear your Chrome cache.
• Ensure you only have one scholarship application open at a time.
• Try using a different device.
• If there's heavy traffic, wait a few hours and try again—errors can occur if many students are applying simultaneously.
• If the problem persists, feel free to contact Student Central for further assistance.

What are the Pathways to Practice Scholarships?

The Pathways to Practice Scholarships are new scholarships replacing the Professional Placement Equity Grant and the Intensive School Equity Grant. These scholarships are funded by the NSW Department of Education.

How do I know if I am in a Low Socio-Economic Status (SES) Statistical Area 1 (SA1) location?

SA1 statuses are determined by a student’s first registered address with Charles Sturt University. For privacy purposes, this information is not currently available for students to access. If you’re unsure if you’re located in a SA1 area, please apply and we’ll confirm for you.

SES is derived from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), specifically the Index of Education and Occupation for SA1 areas.

What Work Integrated Learning (Placements) can I apply for?

You can apply for the Pathways to Practice – Placement Scholarship for placements from 1 January 2026. Under no circumstances are students eligible for this payment for any placement that occurred prior to 1 January 2026.

How much financial support can I receive?

Eligible students can receive $338.60 per week of placement, benchmarked to the single Austudy rate and indexed at 1 January each year, for the duration of their placement.

Are there any income requirements?

Yes, you must either be receiving a Commonwealth Income Support Payment (ISP) or demonstrate a need to work by showing you worked, on average, more than 15 hours per week in the four weeks prior to applying for the Pathways to Practice – Placement Scholarship. Your average gross income must not exceed $1,536.37 per week in 2026 or the relevant indexed rate for each year.

What supporting financial documents are required with my application?

Examples of acceptable documentation include, but are not limited to:

• Centrelink Income Statement (instructions for obtaining this document) or Department of Veteran Affairs card / income statement
  OR
  payslips covering your last four weeks of work
• Any other relevant documentation that supports your application.

The following payments are considered to be ISPs for the purposes for Pathways to Practice eligibility:

Centrelink ISP:
Age Pension
Austudy
Carer Payment
Disability Support Pension
JobSeeker Payment
Parenting Payment
Special Benefit
Farm Household Allowance
Youth Allowance

DVA payments:
Age Pension
Income Support Supplement
Service Pension
Veteran Payment
Education Allowance

ABSTUDY
ABSTUDY Living Allowance

How much time do I have to submit additional documents or information if requested by the Scholarship Office?

If your application is marked as incomplete and additional information or documents are requested, you have 48 hours from the time you receive the notification to provide the required materials, unless you notify us of a delay.

What is the maximum number of times I can receive this scholarship?

Students are limited to receiving one Pathways to Practice – Placement Scholarship per year.

Why do I need to provide my ATAR in my application?

You need to provide your ATAR in your application for reporting purposes. As the Pathways to Practice Scholarships are funded by the NSW Department of Education, we're required to collect certain data to report on.

Your ATAR will not have any impact on eligibility or preference for payment, it is collected for administrative purposes only. If you do not have or do not know your ATAR please enter N/A in this field.

What if I have exceptional circumstances that affect my eligibility?

If you have exceptional circumstances, such as illness or disability, you can apply for exceptional circumstances consideration.  The scholarships team will assess your situation.

If I meet all the eligibility criteria, am I guaranteed to receive a scholarship or grant?

Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a scholarship or grant offer. The Scholarship Office receives many applications, and scholarships are limited, so not all eligible applicants will receive a scholarship.

Can I save my application and complete it later?

Yes, you can save your application and return to complete it later, if you log back in and submit it before the closing date.

What should I do if I didn’t receive the email confirmation?

Your email receipt may take up to 24 hours to arrive.

• Have you checked your spam or junk mail folder?
• Did you enter the correct email address?

If you still haven't received the receipt after 24 hours, please email ask@csu.edu.au with your application number, name, and student ID.

How far in advance can I submit my application?

You are able to apply for the Pathways of Practice – Placement Scholarship up to two months before your placement commences.

What if I already have another scholarship or grant?

If you are receiving another scholarship or grant for the same purpose, you may not be eligible for this scholarship.

When will I be notified of the outcome of my application?

An email notification will be sent to you to advise the outcome of your application.

If I’m successful, when and how will I receive my payment?

Payments will be made by EFT to your nominated bank account within 14 days after the census date for successful recipients who meet the eligibility criteria.
Please note: Where specific payment arrangements are outlined in the scholarship or grant eligibility criteria, those arrangements will take precedence over the general information provided here.

How do I register my bank details with Charles Sturt University?

You can register your bank details with Charles Sturt University through the online administration portal.

Can I apply for a scholarship while on leave?

Scholarships cannot be deferred. If you defer your studies or take a Leave of Absence, your scholarship will be withdrawn, and it will not be paid. You may apply again in a future session if you still meet the eligibility criteria.

What should I do if my circumstances change after submitting my application?

If your circumstances change, it may impact your payments. Please notify us as soon as possible by emailing ask@csu.edu.au with any updates that could affect your original application.

Do I need to inform Centrelink or the Australian Tax Office about my scholarship?

Scholarship recipients should be aware that payments may be considered income by Centrelink or the ATO. It is your responsibility to seek independent advice regarding any implications from receiving this scholarship.

What happens to my scholarship if I take a Leave of Absence?

You may take up to two sessions of approved Leave of Absence over the duration of the scholarship.

If you take a Leave of Absence, you will need to accept your ongoing scholarship offer, but payments will not be made during the Leave of Absence.

How to Apply

Forms and Documents

One or more of these may be required for your application:

1. Statutory Declaration

Application

• Complete an online application form, noting the following:
• Attach a completed placement form/s signed by your workplace learning officer OR have your placement confirmed in 'InPlace' by your workplace learning officer
• Attach evidence of being in financial need (as outlined in the eligibility criteria)
• Applications will be assessed in accordance with the eligibility criteria and supporting documentation.
• Applications with incorrect or no supporting documentation will be deemed ineligible.
• You may be assessed as eligible but not receive an offer due to quota restrictions.
• There are no interviews required.

Outcome

• All applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application.

Acceptance

• Successful applicants are required to accept their grant/scholarship offer.
• Offers not accepted by the offer expiry date will be withdrawn.