PRIME Training Funding

Funding is available to help rural and remote clinicians train for PRIME, so communities a long way from hospital have skilled emergency cover close to home. It is delivered in partnership with Hato Hone St John and supports a stronger, more sustainable PRIME workforce.

What's covered

Travel, accommodation, backfill, and course fees, up to $10,000 per person. Backfill is paid at the national locum rate.

The course fees are $1,966.50 for the initial course and $933.80 for a refresher, both including GST. We can meet that cost for clinicians who don't already have PRIME funding for it

Who's eligible

A clinician needs to be one of:

• GP or GP registrar

• Rural hospital doctor

• Nurse practitioner

• Registered nurse with IV certification

• Locum working in rural and remote settings.

They also need to live or work in a rural area (Geographic Classification for Health R1, R2, or R3), or work in a practice delivering a PRIME service.

Practices don't need a PRIME contract to apply. St John does give contract holders priority on course places, so the sooner we hear from you the better.

Upcoming courses in the northern region.

Initial course (five days): Auckland 12–16 October 2026, Auckland 22–26 February 2027, Whangārei 12–16 April 2027, and Auckland 14–18 June 2027.

Refresher (one day): Kerikeri 21 November 2026, Mangawhai Heads 6 March 2027, Auckland 10 April 2027, Kerikeri 15 May 2027, and Whangārei 19 June 2027.

The full list is on the St John PRIME course calendar.

How to apply
Email kiaora@workforcehub.co.nz with:

• The clinician's name and HPI number

• Your practice name

• Whether you'll need a locum to cover them, and for how many days or sessions

• Where they'll be travelling from, and whether they'll need accommodation.