WellSouth GPCME Professional Development Grant

WellSouth provides a grant fund of $500,000 per annum to support GP Continuing Medical Education and other professional development for vocationally registered General Practitioners in the WellSouth network.  

Who can apply for the grant? 

  • Applicants must be participating in the RNZCGP Te Whanake rectification programme.

  • Applicants must be normally residing in Otago or Southland and have worked in a general practice funded by WellSouth, on a regular basis, for at least six months prior to application.

  • Applicants will be limited to one successful grant application per calendar year.

  • A single grant application may contribute to more than one event, course or activity.   

What can the grant be used for?

You can include more than one event, course or activity in a single grant application up to the total of the available grant per person. Applicants can apply for a grant of up to $4,000, or up to $5,000 for applicants working in a rural practice with a GCH classification of R1, R2 or R3, as a contribution towards any or all of the following: 

  • Conference registration fees 

  • Travel expenses related to event attendance 

  • Accommodation expenses related to event attendance

  • Courses (online or in person) 

  • Journal or learning platform subscriptions 

  • Professional mentoring 

Please keep receipts as proof of payment for any of the events, courses or activities you have included in your application.

How much can I apply for? 

  • Up to $5,000 (incl. GST) if working in a practice with a GCH classification of R1, R2 or R3, or 

  • Up to $4,000 (incl. GST) if working in a practice not meeting the above criteria.  

How will grants be paid to you?   

1. You will be notified either at the time of your application whether it has been successful or has been put into the ballot. The ballot will be drawn at the end of each quarter, and you will be notified immediately if your application has been successful. 

2. Grants will be paid to the applicant’s practice for reimbursement to the applicant.  

3. Successful grant applications will be paid within 14 business days of the approval of your application. 

Grant Audit 

Grants maybe be subject to post event audit at WellSouth’s discretion.   

If audited, applicants are required to provide proof of purchase for the items claimed for. Where no proof of purchase can be provided, WellSouth may require the grant to be repaid.    

How many times can I apply each year? 

The grant accepts applications every quarter; however, you can only be eligible for one successful application per calendar year. Applications will not be carried over into the next quarter, so if you are unsuccessful, you need to submit a new application.  

Application Closing Dates: 

  • 31 March 

  • 30 June 

  • 30 September  

  • 31 December 

How will grants be allocated?  

Funding will be released in four quarterly allocations of $125,000 across the whole WellSouth network. Any unallocated funds from the current quarter will be rolled over into the next quarter. Grants will be allocated on the following basis each quarter:

40% of each quarter’s fund will be allocated on a first in first served basis for GPs in the following priority categories:  

  • GPs in practices serving the highest needs populations (Māori / Pacific / Q5 greater than 50% of enrolled population) 

  • GPs in practices with a Geographic Classification for Health (GCH) of R1, R2, R3 


Priority applicants will be notified immediately whether their application has been successful or entered into the ballot. 

How does the ballot work?

Following the priority allocation, a ballot will be run at the end of each quarter to allocate the remaining 60% of the fund on the following basis: 

  • All remaining applicants will be entered into the ballot. 

  • Entry into the ballot will be weighted for any applicants in the priority category who missed out on the first-in-first-served round. Priority applicants will have two entries into the ballot; all other applicants will have one entry.

  • Entries in the ballot will be drawn at random until the available funds for the quarter are allocated.  

 

Applications will not be carried over into the next quarter, so if you are unsuccessful, you need to submit a new application.

Applicants will be notified immediately following the draw whether their application has been successful or not. Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new application in any subsequent quarter. 

 

  • 31 March

  • 30 June 

  • 30 September  

  • 31 December 

WellSouth GPCME Fund Terms and Conditions

Please review all your application information before you submit your application. You cannot make any changes once you have submitted your application. 

 

Apply for the GPCME Grant Application here

Frequently Asked Questions  

Does the fund only cover GPCME?

No, it covers CME as well as other forms of professional development. 

What if I’m a locum and/or telehealth GP in the WellSouth network? Am I eligible? 

 

A locum/telehealth GP needs to meet the following two requirements to be eligible: 

  • being participating in Te Whanake, and 

  • having worked regularly in a WellSouth-funded practice for 6 months prior to application.  

What if I am not in Otago and Southland when I submit my application, but I will be when I attend the proposed professional development? 

You are not eligible to apply unless you are living/working in Otago or Southland at the time of your application.  

Eligibility requires the applicant to be: 
 

  • Normally resident in Otago or Southland at the time of application, and 

  • Working in a WellSouth-funded practice for at least 6 months prior. 

Can a single application cover multiple educational activities? 

Yes, a single application can cover multiple activities, but they should be included in one application. 

What are the eligible expenses I can apply for? 

  • Conference fees 

  • Travel 

  • Accommodation 

  • Courses 

  • Subscriptions 

  • Mentoring 

Are there any restrictions for practices putting in multiple applications at a time? 

Practices cannot apply on behalf of their GPs. Applications must be submitted individually by the general practitioner.  

Can I still apply for the grant if I want to attend a couple of small courses, that collectively are much cheaper than the $4000? 

Yes. A single application may include multiple activities up to the total grant amount. You may submit only one successful application per calendar year. 

Is there a time frame between the application and attending the event? 

The application should relate to activities planned within the 12 months following the application.  

Is payment to the individual GP or the practice? 

Grants will be paid to the applicant’s practice within 14 business days of the grant approval for reimbursement to the applicant. 

Is the payment made 14 days after the application, or after the event? 

Payment is processed within 14 business days of application approval, not after the event, and will occur during a fortnightly pay cycle.

Does the grant include GST? 

Yes, so please submit GST-inclusive amounts.  

How does the ballot work?  

At the end of the quarter, grant applications will be randomly drawn from the pool of submitted applications until the funds for that quarter are exhausted. Successful applicants will be notified and the grant paid to their practice for reimbursement. 

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified and invited to submit an application for the next quarter. 

Can I make any changes to my application

No. Once you have submitted your application, you cannot make any changes. If you need to make any changes, you can submit a new application which will override your original application.