12531 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills

12531 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills: What action, if any, is the Government taking to address workforce shortages in healthcare, teaching, social work, and mental health professions?

Hon Penny Simmonds: I am advised that Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has in place a Health Workforce Plan for 2023/24 which is focused on addressing workforce shortages across our health system. I understand that Health NZ intends to develop and publish a further Health Workforce Plan for 2024 – 2027, aligned to the New Zealand Health Plan under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. One of the Minister of Education’s priorities is “Improved teacher training: Developing the workforce of the future, including leadership development pathways.” In the 2023/24 year the Ministry of Education has budgeted close to $100m in growing, retaining and distributing the teacher workforce. This funding includes $22.2 million towards scholarships that support people to undertake initial teacher education (sits within Vote Social Development for distribution), as well as funding towards the voluntary bonding scheme and overseas recruitment.