Fifteen more students in Quesnel will be able to get the education and skills to pursue a fulfilling and in-demand career as health-care assistants, with the expansion of the program at the College of New Caledonia (CNC).

“This investment is all about the people of Quesnel,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “We are investing in the future of the students who will take these skills into the workforce and build rewarding careers. We are also investing in making sure families can breathe a little easier knowing that there are enough qualified people looking after their loved ones.”

The College of New Caledonia will receive $150,000 from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training to add seats to its health-care assistant program beginning August 2018. This funding helps students get the skills they need to embark on their career path, and also improves access to health-care services by increasing the number of skilled workers in the province who can deliver health care to everyone who needs it.

"Care aides are an essential part of our health-care system," said Dr. Glenda Vardy Dell, CNC dean of the school of health science. "We are thrilled to offer more opportunities by increasing the number of students able to take the program at CNC's Quesnel campus."

This one-time funding is part of a larger provincial investment to boost the number of health-care assistants throughout the province. The total funding of nearly $1 million will help approximately 100 students get the skills and education they need to build rewarding careers in the health-care field.

In the Cariboo, there will be an expected 610 job openings by 2027 for health-care assistants and related professions. Due to the increase in British Columbia’s aging population, the health-care and social assistance sectors will have some of the most career opportunities, with 142,500 job openings within the next decade.

Through Budget 2018, a total of $548 million over three years is provided to improve care for seniors, including investments in primary care, home and community care, residential care and assisted living. The Ministry of Health is working with health authorities to increase staffing levels in residential care homes. Health authorities are working to convert more health-care assistants, who work part-time and casual, to full-time. 

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For more information on the Labour Market Outlook, please visit: https://www.workbc.ca/getmedia/66fd0e7c-734e-4fcb-b1a6-0454862525a6/BC_Labour_Market_Outlook_2017_Edition_Nov_2017.PDF.aspx