Our work

Participation FAQs

I am registered on the Scheme, but I am currently taking parental leave. How does this affect me?

Bonded graduates are eligible to take up to 52 weeks parental leave, as agreed with their employer, which mirrors the parental leave provisions provided for in the Parental leave and Employment Act 1987.

Time spent on parental leave does not accrue towards your bonding period. The bonding period will automatically restart as soon as the graduate returns to work.

Time spent on parental leave is separate to the breaks and pauses conditions outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

Do I qualify for the Scheme if I work part-time?

For all professions, except Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) Midwives, a minimum of 0.6 FTE employment (average) for the duration of their bonded period is required.

LMC Midwives have a different requirement, based on number of births attended as the LMC, which are outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

When the time comes for a graduate to apply for payment, verification of having achieved the 0.6 FTE requirements or minimum number of births attended as the LMC should be included on the submitted Certificate of Service from the graduate’s employer.

See the Terms and Conditions of your intake year for more information on employment requirements and LMC Midwifery employment requirements.

What happens if I want to change jobs? Am I still eligible?

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

  • are moving to a role that meets the approved hard-to-staff community or specialty requirements for your profession in the Terms and Conditions for your intake year
  • do not exceed the Terms and Conditions surrounding breaks and pauses if you take time off between jobs.

If you choose to change jobs, you do not need to inform the Ministry of Health until either we make contact after your first 18 months of bonded service, or when you include this information in your application for payment.

What happens if I want to relocate within New Zealand? Am I still eligible?

The Scheme has been designed for flexibility and to allow bonded graduates to relocate within New Zealand. In order to remain eligible for the Scheme, you must ensure that you:

  • are moving to a role that meets the approved hard-to-staff community or specialty requirements for your profession in the Terms and Conditions for your intake year.
  • do not exceed the Terms and Conditions surrounding breaks and pauses if you take time off from work whilst moving.

If you choose to relocate within New Zealand, you need to inform the Ministry of Health of your updated details. Please email these to bonding@moh.govt.nz.

I was accepted on to 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 bonded period. You will still be eligible, even if a hard-to-staff category has been removed for future intakes.

If I take leave, will that affect my eligibility with the Scheme?

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

If you are taking a period of 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. You will need to include verification of any breaks, pauses and/or parental leave taken (even if you haven’t taken any) when you submit your application for payment.

What if I want to leave the Voluntary Bonding Scheme after three years, but before five years?

This is OK; your involvement on the Scheme is up to you. If you wish to exit the Scheme after three years you will only be eligible for the first payment. You can indicate to us that you will not be applying for the fourth and fifth payments on you application for first payment, or advise us via the Opt-Out form included in the application for payment or email.

Southland and Otago DHBs merged on 1 May 2010, what does this 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, Medical Physicist, and Radiation Therapist graduates are not affected by this, as they do not have to meet the hard-to-staff community requirement.

How can I find out more?

Read the Terms and Conditions for your intake year.

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

Back to top

© Ministry of Health – Manatu Hauora, 2012