Capilano University is expanding its rehabilitation assistant program thanks to a boost in provincial funding aimed at easing staffing shortages in the health-care system.
Starting in January 2023, 20 new seats at the North Vancouver campus are being funded for CapU’s 16-month diploma program that combines occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech/language audiology therapy. The extra seats are made possible through $380,000 in provincial funding.
The new seats are part of a $3.5-million investment to post-secondary schools to create 322 more allied health professionals in the short term, announced Tuesday (July 19). Other new positions include anesthesia assistants, pharmacy technicians, MRI techs and social workers.
“Building up and supporting our health workforce is our biggest priority,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, in a release. “Our communities have been telling us how important the need for more health services is, and we are listening.... We’re on our way to seeing hundreds of new allied health workers join an incredibly rewarding long-term career. Our commitment does not stop here. We know more needs to be done, and we will continue our work to grow B.C.’s health-care workforce.”
