DEEP DIVE: How can we end placement poverty?

Juggling study and work can be a struggle at the best of times. But some uni students are also required to complete thousands of unpaid hours for placement, and many say 'placement poverty' is causing severe financial and psychological distress.  Now, a group of students and politicians are calling for the government to expand its paid placement scheme.  Last year, the government started paying students in nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work degrees a small wage during their mandatory placement.  But students in medicine, speech pathology, dentistry, pharmacy, OT and other courses are not included.  In this episode, we hear what it's like struggling to get by while on placement and unpack a new proposal to expand the scheme. Guests:  Seniru Mudannayake, president, Australian Medical Students' Association  Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

An episode of the Hack podcast, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, titled "DEEP DIVE: How can we end placement poverty?" was published on February 13, 2026 and runs 12 minutes.

February 13, 2026 ·12m · Hack

Summary

Juggling study and work can be a struggle at the best of times. But some uni students are also required to complete thousands of unpaid hours for placement, and many say 'placement poverty' is causing severe financial and psychological distress.  Now, a group of students and politicians are calling for the government to expand its paid placement scheme.  Last year, the government started paying students in nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work degrees a small wage during their mandatory placement.  But students in medicine, speech pathology, dentistry, pharmacy, OT and other courses are not included.  In this episode, we hear what it's like struggling to get by while on placement and unpack a new proposal to expand the scheme. Guests:  Seniru Mudannayake, president, Australian Medical Students' Association  Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Episode Description