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NIC program offered on Hornby Island

North Island College will be offering its Health Care Assistant program to Hornby and Denman Island residents beginning in November

North Island College will be offering its Health Care Assistant program to Hornby and Denman Island residents beginning in November, as a result of receiving one-time funding in the amount of $93,541 from the Ministry of Advanced Education.

The funding was awarded following a call for proposals and NIC was one of eight successful public post-secondary institutions to receive funding. Applications were assessed on criteria such as institutional capacity, student demand, clinical placement capacity, labour market demand, and past health education program delivery.

NIC worked in collaboration with the Hornby and Denman Community Healthcare Society to develop the proposal and identify prospective students. Ten students will be accepted into the program and the interest list already exceeds that number.

NIC's Dean of the School of Health and Human Services, Dr. Jocelyne Van Neste-Kenny, credits Hornby and Denman Community Healthcare Society's Executive Director, Lori Nawrot, for the success of the application, "Lori was instrumental in identifying the need for this program across the two islands and working with NIC to mobilize community support for the application."

Letters in support of the application were received from Denman Works, the Hornby Island Economic Enhancement Corporation, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority, who will provide clinical placements for the program.

Students will begin their studies on November 19, finishing up on July 4. The program will be delivered on-site at the Hornby and Denman Community Healthcare Society's facility on Hornby Island.

Dr. Van Neste-Kenny adds, "The college is tailoring the program, including increasing the length of the program, to the needs of the students in order that they may balance work and family commitments with school."

Delivery of the program on Hornby Island is in keeping with the college's renewed commitment to working in-community. Instead of students travelling to college campuses, this new regional model of education has NIC instructors delivering programs in communities at the request of its partners, collaborating to improve the employment skills of residents.

For further information about the Health Care Assistant program or other North Island College programs, services and events, please visit www.nic.bc.ca or call 1-800-715-0914.

— North Island College