All work should be paid: support paid placements for community services students.
We have to act now! On Monday 22 April, Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged the cost-of-living pressures on students and flagged potential financial relief for students undertaking compulsory unpaid placements in the upcoming Federal Budget on 14 May.
We have the momentum – help us get over the line! Send your email to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Education Minister Jason Clare– let them know that all work must be paid.
Our campaign champions a simple yet vital cause: every student undertaking compulsory Community Services Degree placements must be compensated for their work. It’s a matter of fairness and equity. Apprentices receive wages for their efforts—so why are Social Work students left uncompensated for theirs?
We’re calling on the Minister for Education, Jason Clare and Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers to introduce paid placements, including for community services degrees.
We want to see:
Why This Matters
We understand that work placements form the backbone of practical learning for many Australian degrees. However, these placements, demanding up to 1,000 hours of unpaid work for Community Services degrees, are not just unfair—they're unsustainable. This system forces students into a corner, choosing between their education and their livelihood, contributing to a dropout rate where more than 20% of Community Service degree students leave their studies due to financial stress.
Recognising this pressing issue, the recent Government announcements show that we are being heard and we’re close to winning.
By ensuring that these placements are paid, we can support students throughout their education, reduce financial barriers to completing their degrees, and build stronger bridges to employment in the community services sector.
Take action today
The budget is handed down on 14 May, so we have only a few weeks to make an impact. Emailing our representatives is a powerful way to advocate for change. Personal stories resonate, so while we provide a template, we encourage you to share your own experiences and reasons for supporting this cause.
All work should be paid: support paid placements for community services students.
We have to act now! On Monday 22 April, Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged the cost-of-living pressures on students and flagged potential financial relief for students undertaking compulsory unpaid placements in the upcoming Federal Budget on 14 May.
We have the momentum – help us get over the line! Send your email to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Education Minister Jason Clare– let them know that all work must be paid.
Our campaign champions a simple yet vital cause: every student undertaking compulsory Community Services Degree placements must be compensated for their work. It’s a matter of fairness and equity. Apprentices receive wages for their efforts—so why are Social Work students left uncompensated for theirs?
We’re calling on the Minister for Education, Jason Clare and Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers to introduce paid placements, including for community services degrees.
We want to see:
Why This Matters
We understand that work placements form the backbone of practical learning for many Australian degrees. However, these placements, demanding up to 1,000 hours of unpaid work for Community Services degrees, are not just unfair—they're unsustainable. This system forces students into a corner, choosing between their education and their livelihood, contributing to a dropout rate where more than 20% of Community Service degree students leave their studies due to financial stress.
Recognising this pressing issue, the recent Government announcements show that we are being heard and we’re close to winning.
By ensuring that these placements are paid, we can support students throughout their education, reduce financial barriers to completing their degrees, and build stronger bridges to employment in the community services sector.
Take action today
The budget is handed down on 14 May, so we have only a few weeks to make an impact. Emailing our representatives is a powerful way to advocate for change. Personal stories resonate, so while we provide a template, we encourage you to share your own experiences and reasons for supporting this cause.