VIU has received funding for 72 seats to train health care assistants to work in long term care and assisted living facilities. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

SENIOR SUPPORT

72 new health care support workers to be trained through VIU

Jan 21, 2021 | 12:18 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island University is set to play a key role in training the next wave of health care workers in B.C.

VIU is among ten post-secondary institutions to receive part of $8.4 million in provincial money to train health care assistants to work in long-term care and assisted living homes.

A total of 600 spaces are expected to be filled through the Health Career Access Program, with VIU eyeing 72 enrolments at its Nanaimo, Powell River and Duncan campuses.

The access program provides on-the-job training at care facilities and is already underway through seven post-secondary institutions in B.C., including one on Vancouver Island.

Participants are paid while they complete their courses and train on site as health care assistants. Additional incentives are included for those who remain in the industry after graduation.

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“This funding for health-care assistant programs supports training for highly valued and respected workers who provide important daily care for our seniors in long-term care and assisted-living facilities,” Anne Kang, minister of advanced education and skills training said in a release.

Health care support workers perform their duties under the supervision of nurses or other health care professionals.

Primary duties are limited to non-medical, non-direct care for patients and residents.

Only Douglas College in Coquitlam and Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops/Williams Lake received funding for more seats than VIU.

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