Support Worker Professional Development Grant

This is a professional development grant specifically for people providing mental health and addiction support who are employed as support workers, including peer support workers, in a publicly funded non-government organisation (NGO).

The grant will cover costs of taking part in a learning activity (course or training programme), to develop professional knowledge and skills that enhance applicants’ support work role or career. This may include increasing knowledge, understanding and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles; or building cultural responsiveness; development of knowledge and skills described in the Real Skills of Keeping It Real | Kia Pono Te Tika, or a combination of these elements.

If a learning activity costs more than $3000, applicants may apply for Te Pou to fund the partial cost of the learning activity up to this amount.

Applicants applying for the Te Pou mental health and addiction support worker professional development grant must not have already received funding via the consumer, peer support and lived experience grant for that year.

Applications for the support worker professional development grant will open on Monday 13 October 2025 and close at midday on Friday 7 November 2025.

We recommend submitting your application on our online grants portal at least 3-7 days before the closing date of Friday 7 November 2025. 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.

People providing mental health and addiction support who are employed as support workers, including peer support workers, in a publicly funded non-government organisation (NGO).

Applicants must have the support of their organisation to attend the learning activity (a letter of support will be required).

The grant covers the costs of the applicant taking part in a relevant learning activity to develop their professional knowledge and skills that enhance their role delivering support work. This may include increased knowledge, understanding, and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles; or increased cultural responsivity/competence; alignment with the Real Skills of Keeping It Real | Kia Pono Te Tika, or a combination of these elements.

The grant can be used for:

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

The Support work professional development grant does not cover the employer back-filling or wages of the applicant and laptops cannot be funded.

Applicants can be funded only up to a maximum of $3,000 (GST inclusive). Applications should therefore not exceed the amount 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.

Applications may also be part funded, if your application is part-funded and you are not able to go ahead with the training you will need to let us know.

1. Increases knowledge, understanding and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles; or increased cultural responsivity/competence
2. Learning activities aligned to the Real Skills as described in Kia Pono Te Tika/ Keeping It Real.

You must start the learning activity between 7 November 2025 and 30 July 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.
• Has a current role as a support worker (or peer support worker) 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 November 2025 and 30 July 2026.