BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC’s HCA Training Program has been a phenomenal success so far, and our organization continues to receive funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement. We are pleased to report that more opportunities have been approved as we accelerate with this training program.
The HCA Training Program is designed to provide students with vocational training and guidance from health professionals to develop the knowledge and skills required to become front-line caregivers in British Columbia. Upon completion of the training program, our graduates are prepared to work in a variety of senior care environments, including home support, assisted living, long-term care, special care units, acute care, and other home and community care settings. This is particularly important and relevant across our province as staff shortage is the number one issue in all care operators.
We have just received funding for two new cohorts that will take place in North Island and South Okanagan, where we will enroll a total of 32 students. The program currently has 103 active students participating in training across different regions, including Vernon, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Prince George, Kamloops, and Salmon Arm.
We are proud to let you know that 62 of our students have successfully completed the training curriculum and have graduated the program. These students are from various regions which includes Cowichan Valley, Kamloops, Parksville, and Kelowna.
Together, the instructors and students have pressed ahead despite the challenging learning conditions during the pandemic. Since the launch of our training program, we have hosted two virtual graduations for two cohorts of students, and there will be an upcoming virtual graduation ceremony this August for our cohort in Vernon.
We are grateful for the support from our government partners. BCCPA’s HCA Training Program partnership is made possible by the Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG), Discovery Community College, Stenberg College, and SafeCare BC. With every class that graduates we can address the labour shortage, and strengthen seniors care in B.C.
