IPMHA Professional Development Grants January 2026

This is a professional development grant specifically for people working in roles as part of the integrated primary mental health and addiction (IPMHA) programme, employed as health improvement practitioners (HIPs), health coaches, or support workers in primary care and community settings.

The grant will help cover the costs for people in existing IPMHA roles to take part in learning activities that develop professional knowledge and skills, enhancing their role in delivering IPMHA services. Priorities for the 2026 grant are for learning activities that:

• enhance practice to better provide services for Māori and Pacific peoples
• build an understanding of addiction related challenges to support individuals, whanau and communities affected by addiction challenges
• align with the values, attitudes and Real Skills of Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika. See our website for more information about Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika.

If a learning activity costs more than $3,000, applicants may apply for Te Pou to fund the partial cost of the learning activity up to this amount.

Applications for the IPMHA professional development grant will open on Monday 12 January and close at midday on Tuesday 10 February 2026.

We recommend submitting your application on our online grants portal at least 3-7 days before the closing date of midday Tuesday 10 February 2026. You can register on our portal at any time, and it will save your details.

First register on the Te Pou Grants Portal by creating a user account. You will need to supply photo ID and bank account details. Then follow the onscreen instructions to create a grant application.

You can expect to hear back from us with the outcome within 10 working days after the grant closes.

Individuals who are currently employed as a HIP, health coach or support worker as part of the IPMHA funded services in primary care and community settings. Support workers who have applied and received a support worker professional development grant in 2025, from Te Pou are not eligible to apply.

Applicants must have the support of their organisation to attend the learning activity (a letter of support will be required). Does not include any training that is fully funded by another organisation or Te Pou.

The grant will help cover the costs of the applicant taking part in a relevant learning activity to develop their professional knowledge and skills, enhancing their role in delivering IPMHA services. Applications can be made for any learning activity that is considered to enhance practice. Priorities for 2026 grants are for learning activities

• that will develop knowledge and skills to better provide services for Māori and Pacific peoples
• build an understanding of addiction related challenges to support individuals, whanau and communities affected by addiction challenges
• align with the values, attitudes and Real Skills of Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika.

The grant can be used for:

• course fees
• related resources and course materials (eg workbooks)
• a contribution towards travel and accommodation costs.

The IPMHA professional development grant does not cover the employer back-filling, wages of the applicant or the purchase of laptops.

Applicants can be funded only up to a maximum of $3,000 (GST inclusive). Applications are limited to one per person.

If a learning activity costs more than $3,000 (GST inclusive), applicants may apply for Te Pou to fund the partial cost of the learning activity up to this amount.

Priorities for the 2026 grant are for learning activities that:

• enhance practice to better provide services for Māori and Pacific peoples
• build an understanding of addiction related challenges to support individuals, whanau and communities affected by addiction challenges
• align with the values, attitudes and Real Skills of Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika. See our website for more information about Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika.

You must start the learning activity between 1 February 2026 and 1 December 2026.

As well as complying with the grant terms and conditions, applications must also meet following the eligibility criteria.

• Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
• Applicants must be aged 18 years or older.
• Is employed as a HIP, health coach or support worker providing IPMHA services in a primary care or community setting and has a letter of support from their employer.

The learning activity must:

• be available in New Zealand
• not already be fully funded by other another agency/organisation/ Te Pou grant
• start between 1 February 2026 and 1 December 2026.