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What is my CPP four-week evidence period?
If you’re applying for the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) you may need to provide evidence for a four-week period.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
- Commonwealth Prac Payment
- Eligibility
- How to apply
- What happens next
- Exceptional circumstances
- Privacy collection notice
Exceptional circumstances
If you need support to participate in your placement but don't meet the requirements for placement hours, the ‘Need to Work Test’ or ‘Income Test’, you may be able to apply for CPP if you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. If approved, you can receive CPP for the weeks you're affected.
To be considered for exceptional circumstances you’ll need to be:
- a domestic student, and
- enrolled (or expected to be enrolled) in a Commonwealth supported place for an eligible unit of study.
The University is required to provide your application and supporting documents to the Department of Education for consideration before we can provide you with an outcome.
What are exceptional circumstances?
Exceptional circumstances are circumstances that are:
- outside your control (such as a disability), and/or
- temporary, uncommon, irregular, or unusual (such as a short-term illness).
AND
- have a direct and significant impact on your ability to meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria:
- to participate in your placement for an average of 30 hours or more per week
- to provide evidence you receive a Commonwealth income support payment
- to meet the 'Need to Work Test'
- to meet the 'Income Test'.
AND
- in the case of income support, the 'Income Test' or 'Need to Work Test', you’d normally meet the eligibility criteria for CPP in your regular day-to-day life during normal studies.
Timing and duration of the circumstances
Exceptional circumstances can be:
- episodic: where you don’t meet the CPP eligibility criteria because you are affected temporarily, uncommonly, irregularly or unusually (e.g. you or someone you have a significant relationship with were sick during the four-week evidentiary period, meaning you did not meet the ‘need to work’ test).
- ongoing: where you don’t meet the CPP eligibility criteria due to an ongoing issue (such as a disability).
The impact of exceptional circumstances needs to be either:
- within the four-week evidentiary period, if the exceptional circumstances affect your ability to meet the 'Need to Work Test' or the 'Income Test', or
- during your placement, if the exceptional circumstances affect your ability to participate in a placement, on average, 30 hours or more per week.
How to apply
You can apply online by completing the exceptional circumstances for CPP form. You’ll need to attach supporting documents to your application.
When to apply
We suggest you apply four to eight weeks before your placement starts, as the University is required to consult with the Department of Education before providing you with an outcome.
The deadline to apply is six months from the start of your placement.
Categories and supporting documents
There are three categories of exceptional circumstances; you may apply under more than one category. You'll need to attach supporting documents that demonstrate the impact of the exceptional circumstances on your ability to meet the CPP eligibility criteria. Examples are provided below, however you may include any relevant evidence that supports your application.
You’ll also need to provide supporting documents demonstrating that you meet the remaining eligibility criteria not covered by your exceptional circumstances.
You can apply for this category if you’re unable to meet CPP eligibility because you have a disability. Examples of acceptable evidence include:
- an academic plan from Inclusion and Disability Services which covers reasonable adjustments for your attendance at placements. You don’t need to provide medical documents if your plan covers your agreed placement adjustments
- a professional practitioner certificate or medical certificate that covers general details of the disability or condition which affects your ability to engage with work or study, and the kinds of adjustments to work or study required.
You can apply for this category if you’re unable to meet CPP eligibility because of a medical condition.
Examples of acceptable evidence include:
- an academic plan from Inclusion and Disability Services which covers reasonable adjustments for your attendance at placements. You don’t need to provide medical documents if your plan covers your agreed placement adjustments
- a professional practitioner certificate, medical certificate, statement or letters of support from a registered health practitioner. These should cover:
- general details of an illness, or chronic condition which affects your ability to engage with work or study
- the kinds of adjustments to work or study that you may require
- how long the adjustments apply
- the estimated time you’ll be unable to meet the CPP eligibility
- if you’re providing care to someone you have significant relationship with, letters of support provided by that person’s registered health practitioner, treating registered health practitioner, or service.
You can apply for this category if you’re unable to meet CPP eligibility because you’re experiencing significant personal or family impacts on yourself or someone you have a significant relationship with. Examples of acceptable evidence include:
- a statutory declaration
- a professional practitioner certificate, medical certificate, statement or letters of support from a registered health practitioner. These should cover:
- general details of an illness, or chronic condition which affects your ability to engage with work or study
- the kinds of adjustments to work or study that you may require
- how long the adjustments apply
- the estimated time you’ll be unable to meet CPP eligibility
- a death certificate, death, or funeral notice. If obtaining this is difficult or not culturally appropriate, you can provide a letter from a medical or mental health professional about the impact the circumstances had on your health or wellbeing
- evidence of mandatory relocation
- documents from local governments, State or Territory governments, Australian Government departments or agencies such as evidence of income support payments from Services Australia, ATO statements of income
- pay slips from employers or timesheets/invoicing information for sole traders
- for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, support from the Gadigal Centre or similar indigenous support service provided by the University
- family violence support service documents, documents issued by a police service, or documents issued by a court as per the Fair Work Ombudsman’s publication, ‘Notice and evidence for family and domestic violence leave’
- evidence, such as an official letter, from a relevant registered service provider
- evidence that you live in an area affected by natural disaster or emergency
- evidence of compulsory legal proceedings or court-imposed requirements or conditions
- an academic plan from Inclusion and Disability Services.
Receiving your outcome
Once the Department of Education has reviewed your application and supporting evidence and notified us of their outcome, we’ll update your application and send an email to your University email account.
Period of time covered by your CPP outcome
If your circumstances are ongoing, your approved outcome can last for the period covered by your evidence (e.g. until the end date of your academic plan), up to a period of 12 months.
If your circumstances are episodic, your approved outcome can last for the affected period of your placement. You’ll need submit a standard application to receive CPP beyond this period, unless new exceptional circumstances arise.
Disputing your outcome
If you don’t agree with your outcome you can request a review by submitting a complaint to the Department of Education. If you're not satisfied with the Department's review, you request a review by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Last updated: 09 October 2025