Health Workforce New Zealand Annual Report to the Minister of Health: 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

Summary

Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) is responsible for national coordination and leadership on workforce issues, including overseeing investment in post-entry training, gathering workforce data and intelligence; and contributing to workforce regulation.

HWNZ is governed by an independent board which provides advice to the Minister of Health and the Director-General of Health.

The annual report summarises HWNZ’s work in 2016/17, including an overview of expenditure and achievements. The report also includes a summary of the priorities and work programmes of the taskforces/advisory groups that support the board, covering the medical workforce, nursing, midwifery, allied health and kaiāwhina.

In 2016/17 $185 million was allocated to training and development of the health and disability workforce, including supporting medical vocational training, Nurse Entry to Practice, Midwifery First year of Practice Programme, postgraduate nurse education and the Voluntary Bonding Scheme.

Work was started on developing a future funding model to focus on training in areas of greatest need. Work also commenced on developing a national health workforce strategy and review of the Voluntary Bonding Scheme. Other work included supporting important legislative changes enabling appropriately trained health practitioners to undertake certain functions previously only undertaken by medical practitioners, and extension of prescribing powers.