Students and B.C.'s health sector will benefit from almost $1.8 million in one-time funding for additional student spaces in short-term training programs, Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk announced today at Camosun College.

"We're encouraging education that meets labour demands - training that gets British Columbians ready to contribute here in B.C., and to put a paycheque in their back pocket for doing so," said Virk. "As the demand for health care continues to grow, we need to ensure that we continue to provide the right training in the right place to meet regional demands."

The funding, which is targeted at programs running for one year or less, was awarded following a call for proposals to public post-secondary institutions. The almost $1.8 million will support 12 programs, including mental health and addictions and health care assistant, to be offered at eight public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C., including Camosun. This will create 221 additional student spaces in 2013-14.

"This funding will increase spaces in a variety of short-term programs from mental health and addictions worker training to health care assistant training that support the delivery of front-line care to patients," said Health Minister Terry Lake. "This is a great example of how government is assessing resources and targeting funding to best support the health and well-being of British Columbians."

"Camosun is very pleased to receive close to $800,000 this year from the Ministry of Advanced Education to help fund our popular health care assistant and mental health and addictions certificate programs," said Camosun president Kathryn Laurin. "This funding is crucial as these programs are in high demand and it allows Camosun to educate more students as professional front-line health workers to provide vital life-enhancing care to individuals and groups in our community who are in critical need of assistance."

One-time funding for short-term health education programs addresses the immediate needs of specific communities that do not have sufficient student and employer demand to support a program on a long-term basis. B.C.'s post-secondary institutions are helping address the needs of the health care system by ensuring that students in the health care professions have the skills and training they need to serve their communities effectively.

Quick Facts:

• Post-secondary institutions that applied for funding through the call for proposals were assessed on criteria such as institutional capacity, student demand, clinical placement capacity, labour market demand, and past health education program delivery.

Learn More:

For more information on The BC Jobs Plan and Skills Training Plan: www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills/bc-skills-and-training-plan/

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

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

(flickr.com)

BACKGROUNDER

Post-secondary institutions receiving one-time health education funding

Eight post-secondary colleges and universities will receive a total of $1.8 million in 2013-14 to support the delivery of 12 health care programs.

Camosun College
Location: Victoria
Program: mental health and addictions: 32 FTEs
Program: health care assistant: 64 FTEs (delivered as two separate programs)

College of New Caledonia
Location: Fort St. James
Program: medical office assistant: five FTEs

College of the Rockies
Location: Invermere
Program: health care assistant: 16 FTEs

Location: Fernie
Program: health care assistant: 16 FTEs

North Island College
Location: Hornby/Denman Islands
Program: health care assistant: 10 FTEs

Northern Lights College
Location: Fort Nelson
Program: health care assistant: 10 FTEs

Okanagan College
Location: Revelstoke
Program: health care assistant: 12 FTEs

Thompson Rivers University
Location: Kamloops
Program: health care assistant: 32 FTEs

Location: 100 Mile House
Program: health care assistant: 12 FTEs

Vancouver Island University
Location: Nanaimo
Program: community mental health worker: 12 FTEs

Media Contact:

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