NANAIMO – More training opportunities for health care assistants at Vancouver Island University will strengthen the level of care for people in long-term care and assisted living residences, says Sheila Malcolmson, New Democrat MLA for Nanaimo.

“Caring for our seniors is such vital work, and we’re determined to support workers doing these important jobs,” said Malcolmson. “This program will prepare more people for in-demand careers in our region, building our system of care as we recover from the effects of the pandemic.”

The New Democrat government is creating 72 new seats in the health care assistant program at VIU, some of 600 new seats being created at public post-secondary institutions across the province, as part of the Health Career Access Program, for a total investment of $8.4 million.

Participants in the program will work in long-term care or assisted living residences as health care support workers, while completing courses to become health care assistants.

Health care assistants provide personal care for seniors, people with disabilities, and people with acute or chronic illnesses in hospitals, long-term care homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and in the community.

This investment is part of B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan, to help people, businesses and communities recover and come out of COVID-19 stronger and better prepared. B.C.’s total provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic exceeds $8.25 billion.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/23621