Primary and Community Sector Placement Funding

In November 2024, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora announced funding for the primary and community sector to support the placement of 200 new graduate registered nurses (RN) into employment.

The initiative enables primary and community providers including rural, NGO’s and funded aged care facilities, to enhance their ability to attract and retain new graduate RNs.

By focusing on strengthening recruitment within the funded sector, the initiative supports the growth and development of a New Zealand-trained nursing workforce, ensuring these essential settings are well-equipped to meet future healthcare needs.

For more information, please contact the team at GraduateRN@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

Funding for this initiative opens on 3 December 2024 and is subject to availability. 

The national primary and community placement funding incentivises the funded primary care, community and rural health sector to recruit and support up to 200 new graduate RNs from our ACE Programme into employment.

Health NZ will provide up to $15,000 or $20,000 to eligible* employers in the funded primary and community care sector as follows:

• $15,000 is available for Urban placements
• $20,000 for Rural placements including some specific Urban settings
• $20,000 for Pacific providers and Hauora Māori providers

The funding does not include NESP positions.

To be eligible for this funding, the primary or community provider must meet all of the following criteria per graduate RN:

• A signed contract with a new graduate RN from the 2024 end-of-year cohort- commencing 6 December 2024 onwards
• Able to provide preceptorship and clinical support for the new graduate over 12 months.
  - Preceptorship courses can be delivered in a variety of ways including through the District, education providers or by employers themselves.
  - Online preceptorship training is freely available through Health NZ LearnOnline
• Able to access or deliver a supported first year of practice.
  - This could include access to the District Nurse Entry to Practice (NEtP) programme OR 
  - A supported first year of practice delivered by employer or local primary/ community providers 
• Ability and commitment to manage the new graduate to develop practice in a supported and effective manner.
  - Specify the processes and responsible personnel in any case where a new graduate is unable to reach learning/ assessment targets. 
• New Graduates should be working a minimum of (0.6FTE) 
• Able to provide evidence of systems to support all of the above

Eligibility funded providers include:

• Primary care and community care providers
• General practices
• Hauora Māori Partners
• Pacific Partners
• NGOs
• Small/Medium (funded) aged care providers
• Rural trust hospitals

All hospitals must employ a Registered Nurse preceptor.

This funding does not apply to:

• Private hospitals
• Private providers
• Department of Corrections
• HNZ
• Nurse practitioners
• Enrolled nurses
• Kaiāwhina
• Return to nursing
• Non- NZ trained new graduate RNs.
• New Graduate RNs who are receiving NESP funding

If you have questions about the criteria, please contact the team at GraduateRN@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

• Employers can submit an Employer Eligibility Form for the panel to assess the eligibility outlined in the above criteria.
• Once approved, Employers will receive a unique eligibility code and can then apply for funding.
• The Employer must complete one funding application per new graduate RN employed.

• Employer Placement Eligibility requests will be assessed by a panel for eligibility.
• Employers will be notified via email of the outcome of their request and supplied a letter of eligibility, with a unique eligibility code to use to submit applications for funding.
• Once you have a signed employment agreement with a new graduate from the 2024 end-of-year cohort, you can complete an application for funding form.
• If approved, you will receive a letter of confirmation that includes the amount of eligible funding for your successful application. This will entitle the employer to invoice for the funding payment.

The goal of a SFYP is to provide a planned and supported first year of practice, coupled with preceptorship to enable a new RN to transition from a novice RN to a competent RN.

Professional development and education will reflect the practice setting, for example, primary health care, aged care or community.

A SFYP should facilitate the development of a culturally safe workforce, reflecting our diverse community, and better understanding own cultural perspectives to bring awareness to how this may impact service delivery across a range of social contexts.

Role modelling the way we work to improve health outcomes, equity for Māori, as well as Pacific People, Tangata Whaikaha /Disabled People, and other communities, that achieves the goals of Pae Ora.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is focused on the pursuit of Māori health gain as well as achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori. Support tangata whenua and mana whenua led change to deliver mana motuhake and Māori self-determination in the design, delivery, and monitoring of health care.

Actively support kaimahi Māori by improving attraction, recruitment, retention, development, and leadership, and te ao Māori is reflected in all that we do.

Until 31 March 2025, primary and community providers have the opportunity to advertise roles tailored for new graduate registered nurses on Kiwi Health Jobs at no-cost.

This initiative is designed to promote the employment of New Zealand-trained graduate nurses across the entire health system.

By advertising your graduate RN roles, you’ll contribute to strengthening our domestic nursing workforce and that fosters a sustainable health system.

To list your vacancy, contact the team at info@kiwihealthjobs.com