More health-care seats are being added at North Island College through one-time funding of $96,800 to ensure that health demands for patients are being met in the Comox Valley.
North Island College in Courtenay will add 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) seats in the 37-week health-care assistant program. The certificate program provides students with the opportunity to participate in a range of classroom activities and clinical experience outside of the college setting. The program is expected to start on or before September 2017.
"This one-time funding allows NIC students to move from waiting lists into rewarding health-care careers and we thank the provincial government for their continued support,” said NIC president John Bowman. “Students take classes, complete a workplace practicum and graduate with the skills, certification and knowledge to support North Island communities."
Health-care assistant graduates are in high demand throughout the province and play an important role as front-line caregivers who can work in both community and facility settings. Health-care assistants provide personal care that promotes and maintains the physical, psychological and social well-being of clients with a particular focus on the elderly and persons with disabilities.
"Our government is working to ensure that communities throughout B.C. have the skilled professionals that they need to keep British Columbians healthy,” said Comox Valley MLA, Don McRae. “Supporting additional seats in health-care programs is another example of how our government is targeting funding to meet the growing demands for health care on Vancouver Island."
Camosun College and Vancouver Island University were also given funding for additional health care seats Thursday.
Camosun was awarded $165,000, which will support 32 additional FTE seats in the health care assistants certificate program, which includes three clinical placements and is offered in a part-time format to provide students with a flexible learning option. The scheduled start date for the program is September 2017.
Funding at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo ($83,200) will support 12 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) seats in the community health promotion for Aboriginal communities program. The part-time certificate program blends in-class and online learning and includes a practicum component. Graduates of the program can find employment in health-related roles supporting Aboriginal communities including Community Health Representative, Aboriginal Health Coordinator and Community Engagement Facilitator. The scheduled start date for the program is September 2017.