University students have long faced psychological and financial stressors while undertaking unpaid placements. New trials are underway to implement support for students experiencing “placement poverty.”

Placements, practicums and work integrated learning are elements of study completed to gain workplace experience, typically lasting 2-6 weeks but varying depending on degrees. Students are not paid for the work they do during placements.

While many students fit their studies around work commitments, placement can require hours not compatible with other work commitments.

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success is concerned about the impacts on student engagement and well-being.

Trial and Evaluation Program Director for ACSES and Associate Professor Tim Pitman said placements are seen as part of learning, not paid work which has made it difficult to change the status quo. Students are encouraged to view pracs as an investment towards greater earnings in the future.

University of the Sunshine Coast professor of management Deanna Grant-Smith has researched the impacts of unpaid placements.

She said: “The financial impacts tend to be strong for students who are reliant on paid work they can no longer undertake and this can have impacts beyond the placement.”

She added that expenses and coursework add to the stressors, affecting their psychological, financial well-being and academic performance.

She said students are often told they “just need to suck it up. I had a colleague who said ‘if they aren’t willing to do unpaid work experience, they obviously aren’t hungry enough to deserve a job.’

“This really sums up how a lot of people looked at unpaid WIL— going hungry was the price of experience.”

Curtin University humanities student representative Tom Harrowing confirmed students have long raised concerns with student unions.

He said university support services are limited and university staff are “hesitant” to face the problem.

To address these issues, ACSES has funded a trial that studies two groups of students. The trial compares the second group’s performance to those receiving a $500 stipend for a four week placement. The results are currently being finalised.

University of Notre Dame Director of Equity and Access Lexi Rollins helped oversee the creation and running of the trial. She said the trial was created after hearing from staff about the challenges students were facing and their efforts to support students that included buying them groceries.

Students from non-traditional student backgrounds — international and regional, students with disabilities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students — participated in the trial at higher rates.

Ms Rollins hopes the trial will expand the conversation about student support.

In response to students’ struggles, the government introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment in the 2024-25 budget. From January 1, 2025, students in eligible degrees can receive $331.65 per week to help with unexpected costs like travel and uniforms.

Mr Harrowing said the scheme is an improvement but is difficult to navigate, excluding for some students and doesn’t offer enough to cover the rising cost of living.

“Universities would do well to consult with and work closer with the National Union of Students and the various student unions.” He said students should have a voice in issues they are core to solving.

The results of the ACSES trial will be released in December 2025.