Only a small portion of academy boys get paid in the Waratahs system and those are who are on Development contracts for the Outer top squad. Their contracts are either EDS (Elite Development Squad) or WTS (Wider Training Squad). Some boys get paid if they get called into pre-season trainings but not enough to live off given the commitment, compared to league where 19 y/o are getting paid upwards of 50k on a development.
Not all clubs can afford to pay players in the Shute Shield which is also a factor why financially stronger clubs tend to do so well in Colts, as they can attract players with small contracts. And yes similarly, Uni boys all get financial support, and college financial support that's why they attract the pick of the bunch, and why wouldn't you accept it at that age but it definitely hurts others... I know most of the boys are still doing it for the love of the game.