VANDERHOOF/QUESNEL - Future health professionals in northern British Columbia will benefit from an additional 28 student spaces at the College of New Caledonia to get the training they need as health-care assistants to provide the high-quality health care B.C. families deserve.

The B.C. government is providing $238,000 in one-time funding to the college for 10 student spaces at the Vanderhoof campus and 18 student spaces at the Quesnel campus in the health care assistant program for 2012-13. Health care assistant graduates provide front-line care in a variety of institutional and community settings, including both home support agencies and residential care facilities.

This funding is part of an almost $2.4 million investment to support an additional 261 students in health-care programs at nine colleges, universities and institutions in the province.

One-time funding to improve access to health education programs helps to meet immediate and projected employment needs in the health-care field throughout the province. B.C.'s post-secondary system is helping to provide faster, safer and better health care for individuals and families by ensuring students in the health-care professions have the skills and training they need to succeed in the future.

Quotes:

John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes -

"There's obviously a specific need for this kind of targeted funding in our region and supporting spaces for health care assistant graduates will make a tangible difference in our community. The importance of front-line care cannot be overstated."

Donna Barnett, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin -

"Front-line care is crucial to any community. Often times health-care assistants work with the elderly and most vulnerable, and I know that they do very challenging, important work. I'm happy Quesnel is getting this kind of local funding."

John Bowman, president, College of New Caledonia -

"Students will acquire the skills to be health-care assistants in just 10 months, so Vanderhoof and Quesnel could see an increase in the number of frontline health-care workers in less than a year, which is exciting."

Learn More:

To learn more about the College of New Caledonia, visit: http://www.cnc.bc.ca/

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400