27 Booking and Funding Your Travel and Accommodation
Students Accessing Funding Through the Rural Pharmacy Student Placement Allowance (RPSPA) Program
If you are applying for funding through the RPSPA Program, placements must be confirmed in InPlace and your Pre-Placement Funding Application Form must be approved before booking accommodation. Check you meet the eligibility criteria first. You must be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency (PR) to receive this funding.
- Students research their own travel and accommodation options and gain quotes, either online or through a travel agent.
- Complete the Pre-Placement Funding Application Form on StudentHub and attach quote for approval.
- Once the budget form is submitted and approved by the School, students will receive an email with the approved amount and an Expense Claim Form.
- Students are to book and pay for their own travel and accommodation. Once you have done so, complete the Expense Claim Form and email to pharmacy@enquire.uq.edu.au. If your expense form is completed correctly, you can expect to be reimbursed within 10 – 15 working days.
- Once you return from your placement, you must complete the Post-Placement Mandatory Reports on StudentHub within 14 days.
- Please refer to the ATO website for information on eligible deductions and completing a travel diary. See the example of a travel diary.
Things to note:
- The total funding available to the school is capped. Students must select the most economical transport and accommodation possible to ensure as many students as possible are able to access this support.
- We suggest working on a budget of $100.00 – $250.00 per night for accommodation. As we need to ensure that the funds are distributed in a fair and equitable manner, so bookings for 5-star accommodation will not be approved. However, when booking your accommodation your safety is our number one priority. Therefore, we prefer that you do not stay in a backpacker’s hostel or above a pub, for example.
- Where possible students should select accommodation relevant to their group size. i.e. if you are traveling alone, look at studios, bedsits, and 1-bedroom options. If there are 2 students, look for 2-bedroom units.
- If you are travelling with other students, each group member must submit a claim for their portion of the accommodation. The accommodation quote must include the names of all students and you will be asked to name them when completing your pre-placement funding application form.
- If travelling with other students, only the owner of the vehicle will be paid the fuel allowance. The fuel allowance will be calculated from the driver’s home address to the accommodation and return. Additional fuel costs will only be reimbursed for travel between placement sites.
- Accommodation is only able to be reimbursed for the placement dates. If you are travelling for more than 3 hours to your accommodation, you can claim accommodation costs for the day before placement commencement and the night your placement finishes.
- Airfares will not be approved for 5-day placements. If you wish to travel further afield, you can do this in your 4th year.
Other Accommodation Options
Queensland Health
If you are placed in a Queensland Health facility in Southern Qld you may be eligible for free accommodation and you should check with Qld Health first before booking alternative accommodation.
To book Qld Health accommodation in the South West region (eg. Quilpie, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Charleville, Roma, St George) you should contact SWHHS_Student_Placements@health.qld.gov.au.
To book Qld Health accommodation in the Darling Downs region (eg. Chinchilla, Kingaroy, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe) you should contact your Placement Coordinator for the accommodation contact.
South Queensland Rural Health (SQRH)
SQRH has some accommodation available free of charge for UQ students on placements. Locations include Charleville, Chinchilla, Goondiwindi, Kingaroy, Roma, St George, and Toowoomba. Further information about accommodation available, eligibility criteria and instructions for how to apply can be found on the SQRH accommodation webpage.
Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health (CCRH)
CCRH provide accommodation for students undertaking placements in their region. Areas in the region include Mt Isa, Weipa, Normanton and Longreach.
The University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH)
UCRH also has heavily subsidised accommodation they can arrange for students undertaking placements within the Northern Rivers region.
The Australian Homestay Network have great value options across Australia with rates staring at $200 per week. This accommodation is open to all students and is an excellent option for students not eligible for funding including international students and those doing placements in an MM2 classified location.
If you will not have your own transport, please research the area and make sure you are in safe proximity to walk or cycle to your placement site as it is unlikely there will be public transport. If you will be driving, please read the attached tips for rural road safety.
