Regional Training Hubs

Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) collaborated with District Health Boards (DHBs), education providers and professional associations to establish four regional training hubs (hubs) which became operational on 1 January 2012.

The four hubs, designed to support more effective and integrated health professional training, each cover a population of approximately one million people. They work collaboratively across each region to oversee the planning and delivery of clinical training, ensuring it meets the needs of trainees and local communities and is aligned with regional service planning.

Governance arrangements for the hubs are integrated into regional decision-making systems and performance measures are reported on through the National Health Board’s quarterly framework. The hubs reported on these measures for the first time in November 2011.

Early priorities for the hubs include supporting trainees to develop and implement career plans, standardisation of PGY1 and PGY2 programmes and sourcing of clinical placements.

The hubs will develop a regional workforce plan aligned to the DHBs Regional Services plans and will have an increasing role in administering and managing a range of HWNZ programmes, including the Voluntary Bonding and Advanced Trainee Fellowship Schemes.

Each hub is headed by a Regional Director of Training who provides oversight and co-ordination across the region.

HWNZ continues to act as a resource and works closely with the hubs to ensure that their activities are aligned to regional service plans and decisions on workforce are informed by local, regional and national service needs.

The four hubs, each covering a population of approximately one million people, cover the 4 DHB regions. The Regional Directors of Training for the hubs are:

• Northern – Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau and Northland: Professor Lorraine Stefani.
• Midland – Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, Taranaki, and Waikato: Michael Bland.
• Central – Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral, Wairarapa, Capital & Coast, and Hutt Valley: Sue Walbran.
• South Island – Southern, Canterbury, South Canterbury, West Coast and Nelson Marlborough: Kate Rawlings.

Updated March 2013