Eligible students may receive up to $13,467.50 to cover the costs
Ontario is providing financial support to help 65 Westervelt College students train for careers as personal support workers (PSWs).
Another 40 students are expected to enrol by the end of July.
“Personal support workers are on the frontlines every day providing our family members and loved ones the one-on-one care they need and deserve,” said Jill Dunlop, minister of colleges and universities. “By increasing accessibility to PSW programs here in Windsor, our government is working to achieve our commitment of training more frontline workers in the healthcare sector and preparing students for these high-demand and rewarding careers.”
Eligible students may receive up to $13,467.50 to cover the costs of tuition, books, and mandatory fees and a stipend for their clinical placement.
To be eligible, students must begin their training in a PSW program at a participating private career college between May 1 and July 31, 2021, and apply through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to receive financial assistance.
“Personal support workers give residents the care they need everyday and the need for more PSWs in the long-term care sector has never been greater,” said Rod Phillips, minister of long-term care. “This investment will help us deliver on our government’s Canada-leading commitment to ensure residents receive, on average, four hours of direct care per day and enable thousands of Ontarians to embark on new careers in the healthcare sector.”
The new investment is part of the government’s $86 million-investment to help train up to 8,000 personal support workers (PSWs) through private career colleges and district school boards.
Since October 2020, Ontario has invested $841 million to support personal support workers and supportive care workers, through a temporary wage increase. The increase currently remains in effect until Aug. 23, 2021.
