Regional Training Hubs

Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) has collaborated with District Health Boards (DHBs), education providers and professional associations to establish four regional training hubs (hubs) to support effective health professional training.

The four hubs, each covering a population of approximately one million people, cover the 20 DHB regions:

• Northern (Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau and Northland DHBs)
• Midland (Waikato, Taranaki, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti DHBs)
• Central (Whanganui, Hawkes Bay,  Midcentral, Wairarapa, Capital and Coast, Hutt Valley DHBs)
• South Island (Southern, Canterbury, South Canterbury, West Coast and Nelson Marlborough DHBs).

Initial project plans and governance structures were developed in the first half of 2011 with the hubs expected to be fully operational by 1 January 2012. Each hub has actively involved clinicians in the development process.

Role of the hubs

• Standardising training/education programmes using educational principles and assessments in collaboration with the various colleges, educational providers, professional associations, DHBs, PHOs, private sector and HWNZ
• Co-ordinating clinical placements to support specialist training programmes
• Supporting trainees to develop and implement career plans and provision of mentoring services
• Providing peer reviewing learning opportunities
• Sourcing traditional and non traditional accredited student placements
• Ensuring workforce training aligns with national service delivery needs and regional clinical service plans
• Administering workforce initiatives, e.g. voluntary bonding, leadership development, Advanced Trainee Fellowship Scheme and support for HWNZ innovations such as the Physician Assistant (PA) role. 
• Implementing and overseeing a national skills and simulation based education strategy.

Reporting framework

HWNZ worked with the National Health Board (NHB) to develop a reporting framework aligned to existing processes through which the hubs have started to report progress from 1 July 2011 on a number of specific workforce priorities such as career planning and implementation for PGY1 and PGY2.  HWNZ will seek input from the hubs in determining the hubs’ other priorities for the immediate, medium and longer term.

Oversight of the hubs

Each hub has its own local governance arrangements, integrated into regional decision-making systems and ensuring involvement of relevant stakeholders.

HWNZ has an ongoing role to

• provide strategic direction and maintain a monitoring and oversight role
• work closely with the hubs individually and collectively through the establishment phase
• provide ongoing guidance and support for clinical and academic matters relating to the implementation of regional training plans.

See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information or contact us if you have any feedback or queries.

Updated November 2011