Greens promise universal payment for trainee teachers, nurses, vets and dentists

The Green Party says it will give students a universal payment while they complete their training to be teachers, nurses, and other essential health and social support workers such as midwives, vets, and dentists.Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said many nurse, teaching, social worker and midwife students' work placements were often up to 30 hours a week of unpaid work, which was leading to high dropout rates because those from lower-income backgrounds were unable to financially support themselves all the way through their studies.She said the Greens' policy would prioritise sectors where unpaid placements were pushing students out."Our paid placements policy will make sure they can afford the essentials while training."Any student being unable to complete their training was a shame to New Zealand, she said.The policy would be paid for out of the Greens' proposed wealth tax, and the party's fiscal plan out next week will show how the health and education systems can be better funded.The $311 million over four years costing was based on providing support to 10,000 students, she said.Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said the party was making the political choice to "adequately fix our healthcare system" and called for Green votes to also change the tax system, with Labour so far refusing to consider bringing in a wealth tax.The party said it would also support students who need to relocate for their placement, making training more accessible for students in the regions.The paid placements policy would:Support students to afford the basics while training by providing them with a universal weekly payment of $380, available on top of any pre-existing student loan or student allowance, for the duration of their compulsory placements.Make it easier for students who need to relocate for their placement by covering some of their costs with a relocation payment of $1500.Improve student retention and widen access so students from all backgrounds and financial situations can train for the crucial roles New Zealand needs more of.Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said people training to be nurses, teachers and social workers were currently forced to do hundreds or thousands of hours for free in order to get into a profession that no one was doing for the money or the glory in the first place."Imagine being required to spend 30 hours a week working and not being paid for it."That's messed up. It doesn't have to be that way. The Greens will fix it."Swarbrick said the country was crying out for more teachers and nurses and social workers, so the Greens will ensure that people are supported in that study and paid for their work.