Supporting Our Primary and Community Health Workforce
At Hauraki PHO, we are committed to developing a skilled, sustainable, and future-ready primary and community health workforce. Through ongoing funding and development initiatives, we support kaimahi to access education, training, and professional development opportunities that build capability, strengthen local healthcare teams, and improve services for our hapori.
These programmes aim to empower kaimahi to grow their skills, explore meaningful career pathways, and contribute to resilient healthcare in rural and urban areas alike. Eligibility and application details vary depending on the specific initiative, but all opportunities share the goal of upskilling our workforce and supporting whānau wellbeing.
Hauraki Primary Care Health Workforce Grant
Applications Open for Primary and Community Health workforce Workforce Development Funding.
Funding is available for kaimahi in primary and community health, who are interested in further education, skills development and/or support.
Funds are intended to build sustainability in this workforce, particularly for those who will be building primary and community health capability and local workforce.
Decisions around allocation of funding will be made by the district specific governance groups.
Eligibility:
- Be actively within the primary or community health sector
- Have a current practicing certificate (if required)
- Be an NZ Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Be undertaking further study or training
- Have received support letters required by the education/training provider
- Be able to provide evidence of how this course links to upskilling
This fund includes:
- Study fees – Primary and Community Care related post graduate training
- Additional Training – Primary and Community Care related vocational training or professional development courses
- Travel and support – Funding for course-related travel, childcare and health and social support
Want to know more? If you’d like to apply or find out more about this fund, please email: waimarama.roa@haurakipho.org.nz
This initiative is a collaboration with Pinnacle, National Hauora Coalition and Te Whatu Ora.
Hauraki Rural Health Workforce Development Grant
Supporting a strong, skilled, and fair workforce is more than a goal, it’s our commitment to those who care for our whānau and communities. Our development initiatives are designed to connect people with meaningful career pathways, while supporting in building capable, future-ready teams. We are big on our rural workforce development and are actively supporting these kaupapa across Hauraki.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Te Puna Hauora Matua o Hauraki (Hauraki PHO), supporting healthcare workforce development particularly in the remote areas of Hauraki such as Coromandel, Whitianga and Whangamata.
The grant offers financial assistance to help build skills within primary care services, with a strong emphasis on improving healthcare access and equity for Māori, Pacific peoples, and rural populations. Funds are limited and decisions around allocation of funding are final.
Eligibility:
- You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- You must meet the entry requirements of your chosen education or tertiary institution, studies, programme
- You must not be receiving funding from other sources for this upskilling or development
- You must be committed to completing the programme/upskilling and reporting back to our team on the impact the learnings have had on your development
Prioritisation criteria:
We will be prioritising applications which expand and develop the skills within primary care teams and improve equity and access to healthcare for māori, pacific and rural populations.
We will also be prioritising rangatahi or pakeke who have experience caring for their kaumatua at home and may be looking to explore career opportunities formally in this space
Pātai?
Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive an email confirming we have received it, and will hear back from our team on next steps.
If you have any pātai, you can reach out to our team via email: amaru.donaldson@haurakipho.org.nz
Ready to make a difference? Don’t wait, apply today!
Te Ara Pūkenga
Recent workforce development activity
Overview: Primary Care Workforce Development Fund 2025
It is rewarding to see the long-term impact of investing in our kaimahi. A great example of this is the journey of one of our kaiāwhina, Ree Clark (Waikato, Ngaati Whakaakia), who began her career with us in 2016 and is now in her fourth semester of the Bachelor of Nursing programme.
With our full support, she has been able to pursue her passion for health while continuing to serve her community. Her commitment to both study and practice has been exceptional, balancing academic requirements, group projects, clinical placements and exams with grace and determination.
A standout moment for her this year was her placement with the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS). Initially outside her comfort zone, she embraced the opportunity fully, working alongside a multidisciplinary team supporting mothers with perinatal mental health needs and rangatahi in crisis. This experience opened her eyes to a potential career path she hadn’t previously considered.
Her journey is a testament to what’s possible when we believe in our people and back them with meaningful opportunities to grow. As she continues her studies and looks ahead to future placements, we’re proud to walk alongside her, building a workforce that is not only qualified, but deeply connected to the communities we serve.
Workforce Highlights
It is rewarding to see the long-term impact of investing in our kaimahi. A great example of this is the journey of one of our kaiāwhina, Ree Clark (Waikato, Ngaati Whakaakia), who began her career with us in 2016 and is now in her fourth semester of the Bachelor of Nursing programme.
With our full support, she has been able to pursue her passion for health while continuing to serve her community. Her commitment to both study and practice has been exceptional, balancing academic requirements, group projects, clinical placements and exams with grace and determination.
A standout moment for her this year was her placement with the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS). Initially outside her comfort zone, she embraced the opportunity fully, working alongside a multidisciplinary team supporting mothers with perinatal mental health needs and rangatahi in crisis. This experience opened her eyes to a potential career path she hadn’t previously considered.
Her journey is a testament to what’s possible when we believe in our people and back them with meaningful opportunities to grow. As she continues her studies and looks ahead to future placements, we’re proud to walk alongside her, building a workforce that is not only qualified, but deeply connected to the communities we serve.
Wānanga Highlights
We have facilitated a wide range of wānanga this year for workforce development. Some of the highlights include: Wānanga focusing on nursing practice, kaiawhina skill development, mental health, and tamariki. These wānanga fostered knowledge sharing and strengthened whakawhanaungatanga among participants who are working directly with whānau.
Overall, 85 kaimahi from the HPHO and the wider network attended, with presentations delivered by 25 facilitators. We also launched Te Manu Kai Matauranga wānanga series focussed on giving kaimahi a solid cultural competency foundation to work with. This year we chose to focus on Mihimihi & Pepeha, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Whare Tapa Wha. Check out some of the whakaahua from our wānanga
