The College of New Caledonia (via Kyle Balzer)Thanks to $150,000 in funding, the province is helping the College of New Caledonia (CNC) create 14 additional seats for 14 more prospective students to become healthcare assistants with the hopes of improving care for seniors long-term.
CNC is one of 14 post-secondary schools the Ministries of Health and Advanced Education have eyed for today’s announcement, fittingly with B.C. declaring Oct. 18 as Healthcare Assistant Day, as the local program takes about 10 months to become certified care aides.
Currently, there are more than 25,000 healthcare workers in B.C. that provide support services for people living with disabilities, living with acute or chronic illnesses including seniors, and work in a variety of settings like long-term care and assisted living homes.
"Expanding the number of health care assistant seats throughout the province brings education and health care close to home,” says B.C. Advanced Education Minister Melanie ark in a statement. “Our government is committed to ensuring people receive the quality care they need when they need it most. Health care assistants play an important role in B.C.’s health-care system, and by expanding the number of seats in all regions of the province, we will ensure that people continue to benefit from their care."
In addition to the 14 seats in Prince George, CNC’s Mackenzie campus is also getting $145,000 to create eight more seats.
Across northern B.C., Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek is getting 14 seats via $185,000 in funding, Coast Mountain College in Smithers will receive $160,000 for 16 more seats and Thompson Rivers’ Williams Lake campus will add 18 seats from $155,000 in funding.
As a whole, the B.C. government is committing $3.64 million to this initiative to start-up 418 healthcare assistant seats.
