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Jobseeker Support : Contents

Designated health practitioner

Designated health practitioners are:

with a minimum of 5 years experience in New Zealand and who have demonstrated an ability to work constructively with MSD staff.

Nurse practitioners, medical practitioners and psychologists must apply to become a designated health practitioner. MSD holds a list of all approved designated health practitioners.

When to refer to a designated health practitioner

MSD can refer a client to a designated health practitioner for the purpose of establishing or reviewing their entitlement to a benefit or capacity to work. MSD will meet the cost of this assessment.

MSD should arrange for the client to be referred to a designated health practitioner when:

  • their practitioner indicates on the medical certificate that a second opinion is appropriate or
  • benefit eligibility is unclear or
  • capacity for work is unclear or
  • the Work Readiness Assessment recommends the referral or
  • for any other appropriate reason

Payment for travel

The client may be able to get assistance for the cost of travel when they are required to visit a designated health practitioner if they meet the following criteria:

  • the return journey is more than 8 kilometres or
  • the client is unable to use public transport because of their illness or disability or
  • there is no public transport available and the travel is less than 8 kilometres

Note this assistance is not limited to once every year and is not subject to an income or asset test or emergency criteria.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Jobseeker support: on ground of health condition, injury, or disability: medical examination section 28 Social Security Act 2018
  • Medical examinations: prescribed health practitioners regulation 9 Social Security Regulations 2018
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A medical practitioner is commonly referred to as a doctor. Medical practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as practitioners of the profession of medicine and hold a current practising certificate.

All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Medical practitioners don't need to have completed their training in New Zealand but must be registered with the New Zealand ...

Nurse practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate.

Nurse practitioners are expert or specialist nurses with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as independent healthcare providers.

All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Some nurse practitioners have specialised ...

A psychologist is a health practitioner who is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. Psychologists are concerned with the study of behaviour.

Psychologists must be listed on the New Zealand Psychologists Board's Register and hold a current practising certificate.

Psychology is a broad field of practice and research which applies psychological principles to: