Future health professionals in northwest B.C. will benefit from additional student spaces in the Health Care Assistant Program at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT).

The program is currently underway in Hazelton and will begin this January in Nisga'a. Students will go on to complete their clinical placements in health-care facilities within the Northern Health Authority region.

The B.C. government is providing over $291,000 in one-time funding, allowing up to 30 full-time Aboriginal students to complete their training, with 15 seats in Hazelton and 15 seats in Nisga'a.

One-time funding, such as this, helps to improve access to health education programs and meet immediate and projected employment needs in the health-care field throughout the province. B.C.'s post-secondary system is helping to support high-quality health care for individuals and families throughout British Columbia by ensuring students entering health-care professions have the skills and training they need to succeed in the future.

Quotes:

John Yap, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology -

"Our government believes it is important to give students learning opportunities close to home, so that when they graduate, they can stay in their communities to build their careers and provide quality health care locally."

"As part of our Skills and Training Plan, we're working with our post-secondary institutions to increase learning and grow our skilled workforce in all regions of the province."

Ida Chong, Minister Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation -

"Aboriginal youth represent B.C.'s fastest-growing demographic, and today's youth have a key part to play in B.C.'s future success. This funding will help them to get the training needed to build their careers, closer to their own community."

Ken Tourand, president, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology -

"As B.C.'s Aboriginal Public Post-Secondary Institute, NVIT is committed to working in consultation with communities to meet their educational needs. Over the past year, NVIT has delivered post-secondary education in over 35 communities across British Columbia. Delivery of the Health Care Assistant Program in both the Hazelton and Nisga'a communities is an excellent example of how partnerships between the communities, post-secondary institutes and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology can directly target the regional educational and human resource needs across the province."

Learn More:

For information on the Health Care Assistant Program at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, go to: http://www.nvit.ca/

Read more about the B.C. Skills and Training Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills-and-training-plan/

For information about student aid programs for post-secondary training, go to: www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentaidbc.

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400