ATF Scheme Terms and Conditions

1. Application for a place on the ATF Scheme 
2. ATF Scheme confirmation
3. Commencement date
4. Payments
5. Definitions
6. Pauses and breaks in the term of service
7. Privacy statement

1. Application for a place on the ATF Scheme

1.1 Please note that an application is not an acceptance of a place on the ATF Scheme.

1.2 Applications are batched and submitted to a panel for consideration approximately two or three times each year. You will be notified of the outcome of your application as soon as possible.

2. Scheme confirmation

2.1 To apply to the ATF Scheme, you must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and have worked in medicine in New Zealand for at least three years before applying to the ATF Scheme.
• Have qualifications acceptable for registration by the Medical Council of New Zealand under Section 15 of the HPCA Act.
• Be registered or able to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.
• Be in post graduate vocational training programme training in a shortage specialty and preferably in at least your third year of post graduate training.
• Be prepared to work shortage specialty and/or in a hard-to-staff post for a minimum of two years after return to New Zealand.

2.2 You understand that there are limited places on the ATF Scheme. You will be notified about the success of your application as soon as possible. 

2.3 The ATF Scheme is a voluntary process and the HWNZ and the Ministry of Health takes no responsibility for any employment decisions you may make based on the hard-to-staff areas defined by the ATF Scheme.

2.4 You are responsible for notifying the employer supporting you and HWNZ of any change of address or other contact details.

2.5 You will be required to report six monthly to the employer and HWNZ on the training and progress being made in terms of the career plan. This will be able to be lodged electronically.

3. Commencement date

3.1 The commencement date of the Fellowship for each trainee is the date on which the trainee signs the agreement with the designated DHB or other employer.

3.2 The end date of the binding agreement is detailed in the contract with the DHB.

4. Payments

4.1 The DHB will reimburse you on production of receipts or other satisfactory evidence of reasonable expenditure on the agreed training, travel and accommodation up to $20 000 as set out in the agreed career plan and in the contract with the DHB.

4.2 You may be eligible to receive support towards a salary for up to twelve months but ONLY if you are in an unsupported post during your overseas training.

4.3 No payments will be made until the trainee has signed the contract with the DHB confirming the terms and conditions of the ATF Scheme and bonding agreements.

4.4 In consideration of receiving assistance via the ATF Scheme you will agree to provide satisfactory service to the DHB in your specialist area for a minimum of two years or repay the DHB.

5. Definitions

5.2 Registration requirements

You must have qualifications acceptable for registration by the Medical Council of New Zealand under Section 15 of the HPCA Act 2003 and be eligible for registration in New Zealand.

5.3 Citizen and Residency requirements

You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Evidence of New Zealand citizenship is a New Zealand passport or a foreign passport endorsed with a New Zealand visa or permit.

You must have lived and worked in New Zealand health services for at least three years.

5.4 Shortage specialties

You must be accepted into a vocational training programme of one of the following shortage specialties:

• Anaesthesia
• Dentistry
• ENT
• General Practice particularly Rural General Practice
• General Surgery
• Health Leadership
• Maori Workforce Development
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedic
• Paediatric Oncology
• Paediatric Rheumatology
• Pathology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Renal Medicine
• Rural Hospital Medicine

5.5 Hard-to-staff posts

Hard to staff posts include:

• Geographical areas where there is mal-distribution within specific specialties.
• Provincial hospitals where there is a need for generalist specialists.
• Positions that provide for succession planning for very low volume sub-specialties such as paediatric oncology or similar other special cases

As it is acknowledged that a number of other medical specialities and professions face considerable difficulty in recruiting and retaining graduates, other specialties and posts for the Fellowship may be considered as part of reviews of the eligibility criteria.

6. Pauses and breaks in the term of service

6.1 An absence of up to 14 weeks in a 12 month period will not affect the time period a trainee needs to complete bonding requirements. Such an absence is known as a break. This means a you can take up to 14 weeks’ absence in a 12 month period from your position without it affecting your eligibility for ATF Scheme payments.

6.2 Any additional absences greater than 14 weeks can be taken with the agreement of your employer and in accordance with your DHB contract and that the time must be added to the term necessary to complete the bonding period.

7. Privacy statement

7.1 Our application form requires you to give us personal information such as your email address, employment and general professional details. The Privacy Act 1993 requires us to tell you that we are collecting and using your personal information.

7.2 All of the information you provide in the registration form will be treated as personal information and will be used, stored and disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act 1993. Relevant provisions include:

• The information must be collected directly from you
• The information will only be used for the purpose for which it is collected
• You have the right to request a copy of the information and to request correction of the information.

7.3 The information will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any person except in connection with the purposes for which it is obtained, or by operation of law.

7.4 By submitting the application form, you are authorising the Ministry of Health to collect personal information about you. This information will be stored and used by the Ministry for purposes associated with the ATF Scheme.

7.5 You have the right to contact the Ministry of Health to request access to and correction of any personal information held about you.

7.6 We suggest you print a copy of this statement for your records.

Updated February 2012