Primary health mental health and addiction nursing capability grants

This is a study grant for Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), Māori and Pacific health providers, and community-based nurse-led services to strengthen the mental health and addiction capability of primary care nurses. This initiative will enable providers to access funding for high-quality training and development opportunities aligned with national priorities for equitable, timely, community-based mental health and addiction support.

This is a one-off workforce development grant for organisations as outlined above.

Applications for the 2026 Primary care nurses study grant round will open on Monday 8 June and close at midday on Tuesday 30 June.

We recommend submitting your application on our online grants portal at least 3-7 days before the closing date of Tuesday 30 June 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.

Primary health organisations, Māori and Pacific providers delivering primary care services, and community-based nurse-led services. These organisations must be publicly funded.

Note that individuals are not able to apply. If you are interested, talk to your manager who can submit an application on behalf of the organisation.

The study grant contributes to the costs of the staff within an organisation to take part in a relevant learning activity that builds on their professional knowledge and skills of mental health and addiction mahi.

The grant can be used for:

• participation in externally sourced, evidence-informed mental health and addiction training
• development of internal training for nurses working within their services that meet capability gaps
• training that supports capability in assessment, brief intervention, addiction screening, trauma-informed practice, cultural capability, or related areas
• local capability-building initiatives such as reflective practice or peer learning groups, where linked to mental health and addiction outcomes.

The study grant does not cover laptops, the employer back-filling or wages of the applicant.

Applicants can be funded up to a maximum of $26,000 (GST inclusive).

If a learning activity costs more than $26,000 (GST inclusive), applicants may apply for Te Pou to fund the partial cost of the learning activity up to this amount.

Learning activities that result in increased skills and knowledge in the mental health and addiction workforce, and that are aligned with Keeping it Real l Kia Pono te Tika.

Priority will be given to:

• service to Māori, Pacific, or rural communities
• clear alignment between identified workforce gaps and proposed training
• strength of expected outcomes and benefits for nurses and tāngata whai ora

You must start the learning activity before 31 December 2026, and it needs to be completed within 12 months from the start date.

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

Employ nurses and be delivering primary care services in a:

• Primary Health Organisation
• Māori health provider
• Pacific health provider
• community-based nurse-led service.

The learning activity must:

• be available in New Zealand
• not already be funded by another agency/organisation or grant
• start before 31 December 2026
• must be completed within 12 months from the start date.