PSA welcomes Paid Prac expansion for pharmacy students

23 July 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the peak national body for Australia’s 42,000 pharmacists, has welcomed today’s announcement that pharmacy students will be included in the Federal Government’s expansion of its Prac Payment Program.

 

Pharmacy students undertaking compulsory placements as part of their degree will be eligible for financial support effective from 1 July 2027, following tireless advocacy efforts from the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association.

 

PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, said the announcement recognises the significant financial pressures faced by pharmacy students and comes at a pivotal time for the pharmacy profession.

 

“Frontline healthcare placements are an integral part of university study for Australia’s student pharmacists, giving them invaluable ‘hands-on’ experience,” Professor Naunton said.

 

“However, it can also be very expensive, with students forsaking part-time jobs to meet the full-time demands of placement work while also coping with general expenses like rent and fuel. It’s a significant financial burden, and we don’t want to see pharmacy students walk away from the profession because the cost of completing their studies has become too high.

 

“The payment program will make a significant practical and financial difference to students undertaking this critical component of their tertiary education, and we look forward to seeing the impact next year as we welcome graduates into one of the nation’s most trusted healthcare professions.” 

 

Professor Naunton also acknowledged the contributions of former NAPSA President Sebastian Harper and current NAPSA National President Mia Avram to this announcement: 

 

“I extend my congratulations to Sebastian, Mia, and the broader NAPSA leadership teams for their hard work in securing the paid prac program for pharmacy students.”

 

Mia Avram, NAPSA’s recently elected National President, acknowledged the announcement, saying:

 

“This is a landmark moment for pharmacy students across Australia. Expanding Commonwealth Prac Payments recognises the essential contribution pharmacy and allied health students make during their placements and will help ensure financial barriers don’t stand in the way of training our future workforce.”

 

Immediate Past President Sebastian Harper, who led NAPSAs advocacy across two terms, also welcomed the announcement:

 

“I was proud to stand alongside thousands of pharmacy and allied health students over the last few years to advocate for this change, and today this win is theirs. It will mean pharmacy students don’t have to decide between putting food on the table and finishing their degree, and for that, NAPSA and our entire profession should be proud.” 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen 

E: leah.jacobsen@psa.org.au or media@psa.org.au

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the only national peak body that represents all of Australia’s pharmacists across all practice settings. We want every Australian to have access to the best healthcare, and this must include optimising access to pharmacists’ knowledge and medicines expertise at the forefront of our healthcare system.