Frequently Asked Questions

I am a new graduate who would like to join the Scheme, but I am currently on parental leave. What should I do?

If you are a 2010 graduate, you must apply for the 2011 intake if you would like to be on the Scheme. This intake closes on 29 April 2010. If you are already employed in a hard-to-staff area while on parental leave, then your bonding period will begin as soon as you return to work following your parental leave (as per the parental leave provisions of the Scheme. If you are not currently employed in a hard-to-staff area, then you will still have until 30 June 2012 to find an eligible role.

I am a medical graduate. Do I have to keep working in a hard-to-staff community once I have specialised?

Medical graduates only have to work in a hard-to-staff community until they move into a hard-to-staff specialty (for up to two years). Once medical graduates have entered a hard-to-staff specialty, they may work anywhere in New Zealand.

I was accepted onto the Scheme in 2010, can I work in the new hard-to-staff categories that were announced in 2011?

Several new hard-to-staff categories were introduced in 2011. However, graduates who were accepted onto the Scheme in 2010 must continue to work in the 2010 hard-to-staff categories for the duration of their bonding period. You will not be eligible if you move into roles which were not designated as hard-to-staff for your intake year.

I was accepted onto the Scheme in 2010, but the community I am working in has been removed from the hard-to-staff list for 2011 – am I still eligible?

Several hard-to-staff categories were removed in 2011. However, graduates must continue to work in the hard-to-staff categories as announced for their intake year for the duration of their bonding period. You will still be eligible, even if a hard-to-staff area has been removed for future intakes.

Southland and Otago DHBs are merging on 1 May 2010, what will this change mean for me?

Southland DHB is a hard-to-staff community for medical and midwifery graduates who joined the Scheme in 2009 and 2010. Otago DHB is not. To ensure the Scheme continues to effectively target those communities most in need it will continue to be confined to the Southland area. This will be defined as the geographical area of Southland, which is identical to the area covered by the former Southland DHB. Bonded medical and midwifery graduates will not be eligible if they move to work in the Otago region of the merged DHB.

Nursing graduates are not affected by this change, as they do not have hard-to-staff communities.

If you have any questions about how you may be affected by this merger, please email bonding@moh.govt.nz.

I am a 2005-2009 graduate but I didn’t apply in 2009/10. Can I still apply in 2011?

Graduates from 2005-2008 were only eligible to apply for the Scheme in 2009. Graduates from 2009 were only eligible to apply in 2010. The 2011 Voluntary Bonding Scheme will only be open to 2010 graduates.

My last year of study was 2009, but officially graduated in 2010. Can I apply for the 2011 Scheme as a 2010 graduate?

The definition of a 2010 graduate, for the purposes of the Voluntary Bonding Scheme, is someone who completed their final year of study in 2010. It is not based on when your graduation ceremony took place (which may be in a different calendar year).

I want to change jobs – how do I make sure I am still eligible?

The Voluntary Bonding Scheme has been designed to be flexible and to allow graduates to move between jobs. In order to remain eligible for the Scheme, you must ensure that you:

1. are moving to a job that meets the hard-to-staff criteria for your occupation and your graduate year.
2. do not exceed the terms and conditions for a “break” if you take time off between jobs.

You do not need to fill in any forms or inform the Ministry of Health at this stage – verification of eligibility will take place when you apply for your bonding payments in years 3, 4 and 5.

I’m taking some time off work, what do I need to do?

Any time off work taken as annual leave has no affect on your bonding period.

If you are taking extended leave, such as leave without pay or are taking time off between jobs, you must make sure that you comply with the terms and conditions relating to breaks and pauses and maternity leave.

You do not need to fill in any forms or inform the Ministry of Health about your time off at this stage – verification of eligibility will take place when you apply for your bonding payments in years 3, 4 and 5.

How do I get paid?

When you have completed your first three years of bonded service, you will need to provide a report from your employer(s) and/or college as evidence of compliance with the terms and conditions of the Voluntary Bonding Scheme during the relevant bonding period and sign a declaration to confirm that you have:

1. worked in a hard-to-staff community and/or specialty
2. met the terms governing absences or pauses
3. worked in a role that is at least 0.6 of a full time equivalent.

Further information about receiving payments will be made available closer to the time when the first payments will be made.

How will my bonding payments affect my Working for Families payments?

Any payment made under the Voluntary Bonding Scheme is considered income, and therefore will be taken into account when Working for Families payments are calculated. This is the case irrespective of whether the payment is made direct against a loan or to the individual (where there is no loan to pay off).

Your own personal circumstances will dictate the extent to which your level of Working for Families payments are affected, if at all. If you would like further information regarding how the payments would affect you, you may wish to contact Inland Revenue on 0800 227 773 or refer to the Working for Families website www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz.

For any other questions regarding the Scheme please contact bonding@moh.govt.nz.