Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is funding a new, dapaanz coordinated internship pathway to help grow a sustainable addiction workforce.
The Intern Addiction Practitioner programme will support better access to training for priority populations — applications* are encouraged from new entrants to the addiction workforce, peer or support workers seeking to transition to practitioner roles, and kaimahi within Kaupapa Māori and culturally diverse workforce pathways.
A paid and well-supported pathway to addiction clinical practice
The programme aims to support transition into practice from a variety of entry pathways.
The internship pathway offers:
- paid employment in an intern addiction practitioner role
- funded training for a dapaanz-recognised qualification
- paid study leave for block courses and assessments
- supervised practice
- mentoring and structured learning supports.
Up to eight internships are available per annum over four years.
A focus on four regions initially
Internships for the 2026/7 financial year will be available in:
- Northland – two
- Te Manawa-Taki – two-three
- Hawkes Bay and surrounds – two
- Te Waipounamu – one
Next steps
Dapaanz will be releasing further details about the programme in the coming months.
In the meantime, please get in touch if you know a suitable candidate for an internship in one of the designated regions.
We are also interested in hearing from service providers who may be interested in employing a paid intern or providing placement opportunities.
*Applicants eligible for Skills Matter funding (administered by Te Pou) will be ineligible for this programme.