Primary and Community Funding for Graduate RN Employment

Health New Zealand is strengthening primary, community and rural care, so all New Zealanders receive timely access to quality health care when they need it.

In March 2025 the Minister of Health announced funding for the primary and community sector to support the placement of 400 graduate registered nurses (RN) into employment per year.

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

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

This initiative is just the beginning! Health NZ is providing support to primary and community care employers to help encourage RNs working in those settings to seek advanced education and progress their careers.

Employers can access support packages to help RNs undertake further study toward becoming RN prescribers and Nurse Practitioners (NPs). We’ll provide more information and how to apply in July 2025.

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

This initiative is just the beginning! Health NZ is providing support to primary and community care employers to help encourage RNs working in those settings to seek advanced education and progress their career. Support packages will be available for employers and RNs who wish to seek further study and become RN prescribers and nurse practitioners (NP).

Funding to support graduate Registered Nurses (RN) into employment in primary care is now open.

The national primary and community placement funding encourages the funded primary care, community, and rural health sectors to recruit and support up to 400 graduate RNs.

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 employment opportunities
• $20,000 for rural employment opportunities

The funding does not include NESP positions. For more information, please visit Te Pou website.

Te Pou - New Entry to Specialist Practice: mental health  and addiction nursing (external link).

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

• A signed employment contract with a graduate RN who has less than three months (90 days) experience working as a Registered Nurse
• Able to provide preceptorship and clinical support for the graduate RN 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
   Health NZ LearnOnline (external link)
• Able to access or deliver a supported first year of practice.
  - A supported first year of practice delivered by employer or PHO/local primary/community providers or
  - Access to the district Nurse Entry Practice (NETP) programme or a similar programme
• Ability and commitment to manage graduate RN to develop practice in a supported and effective manner.
  - Specify the processes and responsible personnel in any case where graduate RN requires additional support for example performance improvement plan. 
• Graduate RNs 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 including:

• Aged care providers (with the exception of retirement village only facilities)
• General practices
• NGOs
• Organisations delivering primary health care services
• Rural Primary Care and community care providers (R1,2,3)
• Rural trust hospitals delivering primary healthcare services
• Hauora Māori Partners
• Pacific Partners delivering primary health care services
• Other Health NZ funded community providers such as home and community support services

All providers must employ at least one Registered Nurse who has completed preceptor training.

This funding does not apply to:

• Department of Corrections
• Enrolled nurses
• Graduate RN who are receiving NESP funding
• Health New Zealand
• Hospital and Specialist Services
• Kaiāwhina
• Non-New Zealand trained graduate Registered Nurses
• Nurse practitioners
• Private Hospitals
• Retirement villages
• Return to nursing
• Secondary services in community

If you have questions about the criteria, please the frequently asked questions below. If you still need assistant, please contact the team at GraduateRN@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

• Check that you meet the criteria above
• Employers can submit an Employer Eligibility Form (external link) for the panel to assess the eligibility outlined in the above criteria.
• The Eligibility form requires nursing-specific information, we recommend you work with or have a nurse leader complete this application
• You only need to complete one Eligibility Form you will receive instructions on funding applications once your eligibility has been approved
• Once approved, employers will receive a unique eligibility code and can then apply for funding. You can use the same eligibility code each time..

Funding is limited so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

• 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 if successful, they will be provided with a letter of eligibility containing a unique eligibility code to use to submit applications for funding. The email will also include a link to the funding application which will need to be completed.
• Once a signed employment agreement with a graduate RN is in place, the employer can complete the funding application form.

Note that while the employer and the Registered Nurse may meet the criteria, funding is limited to 400 Registered Nurses.

The goal of a SFYP is to provide a planned and supported first year of practice, coupled with preceptorship to enable a graduate RN to transition into practice.

Professional development and education will reflect the practice setting, for example, primary health care, aged care or community. This can be a mix of delivery methods e.g. online modules, clinical practice education and support, interdisciplinary learning/practice experience, and relevant study days.

A SFYP should facilitate the development of a culturally safe workforce, reflect our diverse communities, and better understand 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 achieve 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.

Primary and Community providers can advertise roles tailored for 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.

Download this Graduate Nursing Advertisement Request form [DOCX, 2.1 MB] and send to info@kiwihealthjobs.com with the following:

• The Job Description attached as a Word document and advertisement text (preferably as word document but URLs may be accepted)
• The email address or URL directing applicants to the job listing on your career's website
• Your organisation logo attached as a PNG file - only required if this is your first time advertising with Kiwi Health Jobs.

How is rural defined?

A general practice designated rural under the PHO services agreement or,
A non-general practice provider based in locations categorised as rural 1, 2 or 3 using the Geographical Classification of Health.
You can read more about the Geographical Classication for Health - University of Otago (external link). See map on the Rural Health Research Network - University of Otago. (external link)

How many graduate RNs can employers receive funding for?

Organisations are eligible to apply for funding for multiple RNs as long as all the criteria are met.

Each graduate will require a separate funding application. Funding is limited so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Is our aged care facility eligible?

All aged care facilities are eligible except facilities that are retirement villages only.

What if the graduate RN we offered the job to has not passed the state final?

Unfortunately, in this situation you will not be able to apply for funding. We will only provide funding for graduates who are registered and have a current APC. However, you can still apply if you employ eligible RNs or apply later when the nurse has gained their APC.
Please note, we cannot guarantee funding will still be available at a later date.

Does a RN need to have an APC?

Yes. We will only provide funding if an eligible nurse has an APC. We suggest when you are interviewing graduate RNs, you encourage them to apply for their APC as soon as possible.

We were already matched with a graduate RN through ACE cohort. Are we eligible for the funding? 

Yes, as long as your organisation and the graduate RN meet all the criteria outlined above.

What if you have used up all the funding by the time we apply?

As funding is limited to  400 RNs graduate RN, we will not be able to fund you if the funding has been exhausted. We will update the website as we progress and when we a near completion, so employers are made aware as we progress through available funding.

Can we apply for funding before the RN starts work?

Yes. You are encouraged to apply for funding before the graduate RN starts work. As long as you have met all requirements for the funding application e.g. a signed contract at 0.6 FTE or more, than please go ahead and apply.