Media Release
20 January 2004
Clinical Training Agency Strategic Intentions: 2004-2013
The Clinical Training Agency Strategic Intentions document released today is another building block in the plan to avoid
future health workforce imbalances.
The role of the CTA is to facilitate development of the health and disability workforce through funding of Post Entry
Clinical Training (PECT). The Strategic Intentions document identifies areas where the PECT funds are being invested.
The strategy takes into account government direction, service requirements and workforce trends, and has been developed
after an extensive consultation process with stakeholders to help forecast the required numbers of trainees for the next
10 years.
The stakeholders include District Health Boards, the Health Workforce Advisory Committee, DHB Mental Health Managers,
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Ministry of Health Nursing memorandum of understanding
partners, Maori Workforce Advisory Group, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Australasian College
of Public Health, Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.
It is difficult to obtain accurate workforce information in the wider health sector. This publication represents CTA's
best efforts to obtain information. Inputs from the sector are welcome as are suggestions on how this resource might be
improved or developed.
Planning does not stop with the publication of this document. Analytical work will always be necessary to refine and
update predictions to ensure consistency with government direction, service requirements and workforce trends.
New Zealand is one of the few countries that is attempting to forecast future health workforce requirements. Others
include Canada, Australia and the UK.
ENDS
What qualifies as Post Entry Clinical Training (PECT)?
vocational: rather than academic or research-based
clinical: clinically based, with a substantial clinical component where employment in a clinical setting is integral to
completion of the qualification
post-entry: is after entry to a health profession so that a person is able to practise in a particular occupation
formal: a trainee is formally enrolled in a training programme that leads to a recognised qualification
six months: the training programme is equivalent to a maximum of six months full-time
nationally recognised: by the profession and/or health sector and meeting a national health service skill requirement
rather than a local employer need