Funding for primary care employers to recruit graduate registered nurses

In March 2025, the Minister of Health announced funding to incentivise the primary care and community sector to employ up to 400 graduate registered nurses. 

Health NZ will provide up to:

• $15,000 for urban employers
• $20,000 for rural employers.

This funding is just the start of supporting graduate registered nurses into long, meaningful and rewarding careers in the primary care and community sector.

Further support will include help for registered nurses in primary care and community settings to seek advanced education and progress their careers, including support to undertake further study towards becoming a registered nurse prescriber and nurse practitioner.

We will provide an update on the further support in August 2025.

This funding is available to 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, R2, R3)
• rural trust hospitals delivering primary healthcare services
• Hauora Māori and Pacific partners delivering primary 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 registered nurses who are receiving NESP funding
• Health New Zealand entities
• 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, see the frequently asked questions below o email GraduateRN@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

To be eligible for this funding, a primary care or community provider must meet all of these criteria:

• A signed employment contract with a graduate RN who has less than three months’ (90 days) experience working as an RN.
• 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 Ko Awatea LEARN 
  Links Introduction to Preceptorship - Ko Awatea Learn (external link)
  - A supported first year of practice delivered by employer or PHO/local primary/community providers or
  - Access to the district SFYP (previously NETP) programme or a similar programme.
• Ability and commitment to support the graduate RN to develop their 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 RN should be working a minimum of 0.6 FTE.
• Able to provide evidence of systems to support all of the above.

• Confirm you meet the criteria above.
• Employers are required to submit an Employer Eligibility Form
• The eligibility form requires information specific to the nursing profession, so we recommend you work with or have a nurse leader complete this application.
• A panel will then review the eligibility form to ensure all the criteria have been met.
• Only one eligibility form per employer is required.
• Once the employer eligibility form has been approved, employers will receive a unique eligibility code to then apply for funding.
• Employers must use the same eligibility code for each funding application.

If you've submitted an application and haven't received a reply within 10 working days, email 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 you apply for funding.

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

If you've submitted an application and haven't received an outcome from us within 10 working days, please email GraduateRN@tewhatuora.govt.nz

• 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 Supported First Year of Practice (SFYP) provides graduate Registered Nurses with a planned, structured and supported transition into primary and community healthcare. Through workplace learning, professional development, and preceptorship, graduate GNs build confidence, and strong professional identity as they begin their nursing careers. 

The programme ensures every graduate nurse experience a safe and supportive first year in practice. It strengthens clinical decision-making, deepens professional nursing capability, and reflects the unique needs of different practice settings such as primary health care, aged residential care, and community services. Education and development are delivered through a blend of online learning modules, clinical coaching, interdisciplinary experiences, peer learning, and dedicated study days.

Supported First Year of Practice plays an important role in developing a culturally safe, inclusive, and responsive nursing workforce. Graduate RNs are supported to understand cultural perspectives and how this influence health service delivery, reflect on their practice within diverse communities, and contribute to improved health outcomes and equity for Māori, Pacific Peoples, Tangata Whaikaha/Disabled People, and others. The programme aligns with Pae Ora and encourages role modelling behaviours that support fair and equitable care for all. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins the expectations of practice across Aotearoa. SFYP reinforces the responsibility of nurses to pursue Māori health gain and equitable outcomes, support tangata whenua and mana whenua-led change, and enable mana motuhake and Māori self-determination in the design, delivery, and monitoring of care. The programme supports the visibility and wellbeing of kaimahi Māori and encourages recruitment, retention, development, and leadership pathways that reflect te ao Māori in everyday practice.

To help preceptors, mentors, and graduate RNs plan for a successful first year, two key resources are available.

• Guidance for Graduate RN SFYP [PDF, 126 KB] outlines how to create a safe, structured, and supportive transition into primary and community practice. 
• Graduate RN SFYP Individual Practice Transition Plan [DOCX, 153 KB] provides a practical tool to document progress, identify learning opportunities, and track development across the year.

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 don't have to be attached to a PHO to qualify for this funding.
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.