There is considerable local interest in a new accelerated training program to recruit more personal support workers (PSWs) across Ontario.
Lambton College received provincial funding for 55 students, and about 70 have registered.
Dean for the School of Health, Community Services and Creative Design Silvana Macdonald said the fully-funded program allows students to enter the workforce more quickly, with in-person practical experience and paid work placements.
"It meets all the same learning outcomes, it's the same college credentials, so it's still a PSW certificate when students complete the entire program," said Macdonald. "The difference here is that instead of 30 weeks it's now 24 weeks."
Macdonald said she has appealed to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for additional funding to help meet the demand.
"I really wish that we would have been able to take more students on because there's a very long waiting list," she said. "So what we have done is, I have gone back to the ministry to see if we could get funding for additional seats because there is such a great need in our community."
In February, the Ford Tories announced $115-million to train up to 8,200 new PSWs in the health and long-term care sectors, part of the government's Long-Term Care Staffing Plan.
The program is available at all 24 publicly-assisted colleges in Ontario.
