Rural Mentoring Services

While midwives already have colleagues within their practice locality that they may talk to often, the mentoring relationship adds another dimension to this collegial support. Mentors are expected to listen, challenge, support and create the opportunity for mentee midwives to reflect on and explore their practice as a rural midwife.

The rural professional mentoring programme provides up to 22 hours of mentorship within a 12-month period to a rural LMC midwife by an experienced midwife mentor who is on the RMRRS register.

You are likely to be eligible for mentorship if you are a rural LMC midwife and:

• Approximately 50% of your caseload consists of rural/remote-rural women (based on Section 88 definitions)
• Are not receiving mentorship as part of the Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme.

The mentoring relationship includes:

• An initial face-to-face meeting to negotiate your own development needs and gain an understanding of how it will work for both of you.
• A minimum of 5 and 1/2 hours of mentoring every three months for a 12 month duration.
• A set travel and communication subsidy to be paid to the mentee quarterly upon completion of each stated component of the service (subject to contract requirements of the mentor).

If you do not have a midwife mentor in mind, we may be able to pair you with one of our approved Mentors on the RMRRS mentor register. A mentorship contract will be completed by both parties upon approval to the programme.

Apply for Rural Mentorship

Applications can be emailed to [email protected]

Mentoring is a unique relationship which provides a rural LMC midwife the opportunity to discuss and be guided in their everyday practice as a rural midwife. Mentors are expected to listen, challenge, support and create the opportunity for mentee midwives to reflect on and explore their practice as a rural midwife.

The rural professional mentoring programme provides up to 22 hours of mentorship within a 12-month period to a rural LMC midwife by an experienced midwife mentor who is on the RMRRS register.

You are likely to be eligible to become a mentor if you:

• Have a current APC with no ‘Conditions on practices’ and at least 4 years’ experience as a midwife in New Zealand.
• Have indemnity cover through NZCOM membership or another approved source.
• Ideally have experience birthing women in a primary maternity facility in New Zealand.
• Have undertaken NZCOM mentorship training or are willing to undertake it.
• Are actively involved in the Midwifery recertification process.
• Have no outstanding complaints or cases with ACC, HDC, Midwifery Council or other bodies.

Following approval your name will be placed on the register of approved Mentors, which is given to rural LMC midwives seeking mentoring.

The mentoring role involves:

• An initial face-face meeting at the start of the mentoring relationship to negotiate your own development needs and gain an understanding of how it will work for both of you.
• A minimum of 5 and 1/2 hours of mentoring every three months for a 12-month duration.
• Keeping a comprehensive record of meeting times and dates should the Ministry of Health wish to audit the service.
• Quarterly payments made to the mentor by the service upon completion of each stated component of the service.

Apply to become a Rural Mentor

Applications can be emailed to [email protected]