South Island | Te Waipounamu Workforce Development Hub
Te Waipounamu Workforce Development Hub was established in June 2026 to strengthen capability and support a more sustainable primary and community care workforce across the region.
What the Workforce Development Hub does
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Works with the PHOs , providers, rural training hubs and other workforce initiatives to coordinate accessible training opportunities and strengthen the local workforce across Te Waipounamu.
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Funds training and development for the primary and community care workforce.
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Helps attract, grow and retain skilled health professionals.
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Builds workforce capability so more care can be provided closer to home, improving access and reducing hospital demand.
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Facilitates funding for other initiatives, for example community-based attachments for PGY1 and PGY2.
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Strengthens support for first-year graduate nurses.
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Develops and monitors a regional workforce development plan.
A collaborative initiative
Pegasus Health and WellSouth have been contracted by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora to jointly establish and implement the Workforce Development Hub on behalf of PHOs, primary care providers and partners across Te Waipounamu. Work is underway to set up the operational structures needed to support the Hub.
Early Priority: Workforce Training Funds
An early priority for the Hub is to coordinate accessible workforce training funding for primary and community care. The first funding streams are:
GP Planned Care Training Fund
LIVE: Applications for GP Planned Care Training funds are now open.
Decisions on funding the applications received will be made monthly, commencing late-July 2026.
The GP Planned Care Training Fund supports general practitioners and GP trainees to undertake training that enables them to deliver Enhanced Primary and Community Care planned care services that is consistent with agreed national and regional pathways.
The fund, through the Workforce Development Hub, aims to improve equitable access to planned care services closer to home, particularly for Māori, Pacific peoples, rural communities and other priority populations.
Terms and Conditions
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to submit an expression of interest
The application and reimbursement process aims to be simple and proportionate, while maintaining appropriate accountability for public funding.
Completed applications will be reviewed by the South Island | Te Waipounamu Training Funds Working Group, which includes primary and community care health professionals.
Approved funding will be paid to the employing provider, not directly to the individual applicant, following receipt of an invoice from the employer for the approved amount.
If your application is approved, you and your employer will be asked to enter a contract.
Approved applicants must:
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Provide evidence of how the funds were used.
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Submit a short evaluation form after completing the training.
Guidelines for prioritising EOI
Where funding is oversubscribed, the EOI will be prioritised using an equity and access framework. This will include a focus on the delivery of planned care and will be in communities that are rural, have a high proportion of Māori, Pacific, deprivation and other priority populations.
Interdisciplinary Enhanced Primary and Community Planned Care Training Fund
Available for nurses and allied health clinicians, including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and allied health professionals — COMING SOON.
Unregulated Health Worker Training Fund
For unregulated healthcare workers, including healthcare assistants, practice assistants and kaiāwhina — COMING SOON.
Register with the Workforce Development Hub
Sign up to stay informed about new workforce training funding opportunities and receive updates from Te Waipounamu Workforce Development Hub.