In 2025, the Medical Student Council of Victoria (MSCV) ran a survey of 120 medical students across the state, which found that 71% of students work outside of university hours. The biggest financial pressures for students were groceries, rent, transport costs, bills, and a reduction in earnings due to study. Importantly, 70% of students agreed or strongly agreed that their level of financial hardship impacted their education and wellbeing.
Victorian medical students complete thousands of hours of unpaid placement over the course of their degree. Placements are full time, for 36 weeks of the year, for 3 years and necessary to produce competent doctors. Outside of university, students need to study, watch lectures, and complete research projects. This leaves limited time and flexibility to work a part time job which, with increasing cost of living, leaves many students struggling to financially support themselves.
While meeting the difficult entrance requirements to join the course often requires the privilege of limited caring responsibilities, limited time taken due to illness, and financial and emotional family support, it is a common misconception that all medical students come from privilege or remain in these circumstances throughout the course. Our survey found that only a third of students live at home or with family; almost half of students agreed or strongly agreed that they were stressed with the uncertainty surrounding their living situation, and a third of students felt a lack of social and family support negatively impacted their learning and wellbeing.
To address these concerns, MSCV has advocated for the Assistance in Medicine Program, Commonwealth Practical Payments and the deferral of AHPRA fees. The time between graduation and starting internship is a particularly difficult time for medical students financially. It is often not a long enough period to gain a new job, and Centrelink payments have ceased. However, rent and groceries still need to to be paid for, and there are additional costs associated with the start of work.
In light of this, MSCV contacted AHPRA in 2023 to see if the registration fees could be delayed until after the first pay check. Immediate past MSCV President Shreya Mago pushed for this through meetings and letters to AHPRA in 2024 and 2025. With the support of AMA Vic we organised a meeting in 2025 with the AHPRA CEO to discuss these issues. In 2026, the MSCs across the country had communications with their local AHPRA contacts and we met with the AHPRA CFO with the support of AMSA. This long journey paid off in September this year, when AHPRA announced a pilot program where medical students have the option to defer their fees until after the first pay check. This is a huge win for medical students and speaks to the power of joint advocacy.
We hope this is the first of further wins for medical students, including extending Commonwealth Prac Payments to medical students and continuing to address the financial pressures of medical training.
Asha Doolabh (MSCV President), Chen Wang (MSCV Vice President) and Hasna Kazi (MSCV Advocacy Officer)