Te Whatu Ora is providing relocation funding to support the international recruitment of general practitioners (GPs) to work in rural primary care practices that are having difficulty attracting and recruiting GPs.
Te Whatu Ora know there are acute pressures across primary care. Rural primary care providers often have the most difficulty replacing clinical staff. Assistance with relocation funding is an immediate action Te Whatu Ora is taking to try and boost the international recruitment and retention of GPs in rural practices, to help alleviate some of the pressures being experienced in rural primary care.
This initiative will enable rural primary care practices to be better positioned to attract and retain internationally recruited GPs, while Te Whatu Ora 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.
This funding is being provided to contribute to the relocation expenses of internationally recruited GPs who take up a new position and/or sign an employment agreement with an eligible rural primary care practice between 1 September 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive).
Te Whatu Ora 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 position with an eligible rural primary care practice.
Funding will be transferred to the internationally recruited GP through their eligible employer.
Please visit the Te Whatu Ora website for more details on eligibility criteria and how employers can apply for this funding.
For further information contact ruralgprelocation@health.govt.nz.
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