Provincial Boost To Funding, Increase Number Of Trained Caregivers

April 18, 2018

Victoria – The ministries of Health and Advanced Education, Skills and Training are providing approximately $3.3 million to create new health-care assistant seats in 11 post-secondary institutions throughout British Columbia. This is one part of a larger human resource strategy to increase staffing levels in residential care facilities and community care sectors.

However, looking at the list that was provided, there are no dollars for the Fraser Valley.

“Health-care assistants play a valuable role in the public health system, offering day-to-day personal-care support to seniors and people with disabilities,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Investing in health-care sector education programs means people are getting trained for in-demand jobs, and adequately staffing our health-care system means people get the care they need for generations to come.”

There are currently an estimated 28,000 health-care assistants employed by health authorities and affiliated employers in B.C. Health-care assistants provide personal support services for seniors, people with a disability and people with acute or chronic illnesses. They work in a variety of settings including home support, assisted living and residential care facilities.

There are 17 publicly funded post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. that offer health-care assistant training. Training programs are approximately six to 10 months long. This new funding will make the new seats available by December 2019. This will help achieve the recommended 3.36 hours per resident day average in residential care facilities, and strengthen the level of care people receive at home, in assisted living facilities and residential care.

The ministries of Health and Advanced Education will provide funding to the following 11 post-secondary institutions, to add health-care assistant seats throughout B.C.:

Camosun College
Salt Spring Island, 16 additional seats
$188,000

Camosun College
Victoria, 32 additional seats
$255,000

Camosun College
Victoria, 32 additional seats
$257,000

Camosun College
Victoria (Indigenous), 12 additional seats
$260,000

Camosun College
Victoria, 16 additional seats
$140,000

Capilano University
North Vancouver, 20 additional seats
$135,000

College of New Caledonia
Mackenzie, 12 additional seats
$145,000

College of New Caledonia
Quesnel, 15 additional seats
$150,000

College of the Rockies
Invermere, 16 additional seats
$128,000

College of the Rockies
Fernie, 16 additional seats
$130,000

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Kamloops, 14 additional seats
$146,000

North Island College
Campbell River, 20 additional seats
$158,000