WBoP PHO General Practice Team Scholarship Information

WBoP PHO General Practice Team Professional Development Scholarships Purpose To support high quality and sustainable primary health care services, WBoP PHO has made a commitment to investing in workforce development initiatives that enhance clinical, administrative and leadership capabilities within general practice teams.

A contestable professional development scholarship fund has been established to provide financial support for GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Healthcare Assistant and Administrative staff within the WBoP PHO network to participate in professional development activities that will add value to the general practice team and their enrolled population.

Applicant criteria Applications are welcomed from any general practice team member who plans to enrol or are currently enrolled in programmes of study or other professional development activities that support their development within the primary health care environment. The applicant will need to clearly demonstrate how the intended programme of study will influence their practice in the primary care setting and contribute to achieving improved health outcomes for patients.

Prioritisation Priority will be given to applications that support improving outcomes for Maori and other high needs groups within a practice population. Specifically, consideration will be given to the following areas;     

Improve health outcomes for high-needs populations / individual patients Enhance access to services, managing acute demand address equity issues for Maori improve business sustainability / service provision align with national /regional strategic health priorities

Scholarship applicants must fulfil the following criteria:   

New Zealand resident or citizen Working as a general practice team member in a WBoP PHO member practice Have full support from the general practice to participate in the proposed professional development activity

Scholarship details  

The maximum scholarship per applicant is $2000 per individual year. Applications may be made for subsequent years of an extended professional development study period.

Research – where the research is linked to WBoP PHO data or WBoP PHO activities/projects an application must first be made to WBoP PHO for approval of such research.

WBoP PHO Scholarship Information Sheet

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Timeframes and deadlines Scholarship applications are invited throughout the year and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Scholarship Application Forms should be sent to: General Practice Services Admin Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation PO Box 13225, Tauranga 3141, New Zealand

Initial applications can be sent via email to: copies.

gpsadmin@wboppho.org.nz and must be followed by hard

In order to assess applications a review panel may be convened. Testimonial evidence from the applicant’s educational establishment or current employer may be obtained in order to support their application.

Terms and conditions of the scholarship   

Names of recipients and results of successful education activities will be published by WBoP PHO. If the scholar should leave the programme of study, not attend or fail to qualify, an explanation must be provided to WBoP PHO. A decision will be made as to whether any scholarship monies should be repaid.

If postponement or a leave of absence is required, WBoP PHO will work with the scholar to reach an agreement upon if and when the scholarship should commence or recommence.

The scholarship may be terminated if:   

The scholar does not comply with the conditions of the scholarship.

The scholar fails to pursue the agreed programme of study / professional development activity The host education provider is not satisfied that the scholar is diligently carrying out the agreed programme of study / professional development activity

The scholar will only be eligible to receive payment once they have successfully enrolled in a suitable programme of study / professional development activity and all required supporting documents have been provided.

The scholar agrees to submit a short summary of the key highlights and benefits gained from the programme of study. A form will be provided to the scholar for completion and must be provided to WBoP PHO no later than four weeks from the completion date of the programme of study funded through the scholarship.

Payment will be made by cheque or direct credit into the scholar’s nominated bank account or directly to the education facility or conference organiser.

Funding exceptions Scholarship applications for programmes of study which are fully funded by other sources will not be considered.

Applicants who have been successful in gaining funding from other sources but who have a funding shortfall may apply as long as other sources and amounts of funding are declared at the time of application.

Programmes of study which do not have relevance to primary health care will not be eligible.

WBoP PHO Scholarship Information Sheet

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