Relocation Funding to Support the International Recruitment of Rural General Practitioners

Te Whatu Ora is providing relocation funding to support the international recruitment of GPs to work in rural primary care practices.

This initiative will enable rural primary care practices to be better positioned to attract and retain internationally recruited GPs, while we invest in growing more sustainable domestic GP workforce supply pathways. Supporting and strengthening rural primary care will enable rural communities to have better and more equitable access to health care in their local communities to help them stay well.

Funding for this initiative opened on 1 September 2023 and will close on 30 June 2024.

If you are a rural primary care practice looking to recruit an international GP, and want to gain access to this funding, please fill out our application form.

You can read through our guidance document (PDF, 222 KB) for more information about the application process.

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This funding is being provided to contribute to the relocation expenses of internationally recruited GPs who take up a new job or sign an employment agreement with an eligible rural primary care practice between 1 September 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive).

We will provide up to $20,000 (plus the PAYE and 1.53% ACC levy) in two lump sum payments over a two-year bonding period for each eligible internationally recruited GP who takes up a new role with an eligible rural primary care practice.

Funding will be transferred to the eligible internationally recruited GP through their employer.

Funding will be transferred to the eligible rural primary care practice for payment to the eligible recruited GP in two instalments comprising:

• Instalment 1: 50% of the funding will be paid when the newly recruited eligible GP starts working in the eligible rural primary care practice.
• Instalment 2: 50% of the funding will be paid after the GP has worked for 12 months, conditional on the GP committing to work with the eligible rural primary care practice for a further 12 months.

The eligible rural primary care practice will provide the lump sum payment to the internationally recruited GP and will ensure that the relevant PAYE and 1.53% ACC levy are paid to IRD. A bonding arrangement will apply within the terms of the employment agreement with the recruited GP.

To be eligible for this funding, the rural primary care practice must meet all of the following criteria:

• The primary care practice receives rural funding from Te Whatu Ora (usually via their PHO).
• The primary care practice has been unsuccessful in filling a GP vacancy for 6 months or more, and can provide evidence of active recruitment over this time.
• The GP position is a minimum of 0.8 FTE and a permanent position.

Eligible internationally recruited GPs

To be eligible for this funding the internationally recruited GP must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be registered to practise as a GP in New Zealand.
• Take up a new job or sign an employment agreement in an eligible rural GP practice between 1 September 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive).
• Relocate from an overseas location to take up a permanent GP position that is a minimum of 0.8 FTE.
• Commence practising in an eligible rural primary care practice.

Applications must be submitted by an eligible rural primary care practice on behalf of an eligible internationally recruited GP.

An eligible rural primary care practice can complete more than one application, however, only one application per GP applicant will be accepted.

Before completing this form, please read this application guidance document (PDF, 222 KB) and complete all sections with the most up-to-date and accurate information you have.

Funding applications will be reviewed monthly and assessed for eligibility.

Applicants will be notified via email of the outcome of their application.

The information supplied as part of a successful application will form the basis of a funding agreement between Te Whatu Ora and your organisation.