Healthcare And Technology Training Coming To B.C. Indigenous Communities

Post-secondary students in rural and remote Indigenous communities throughout B.C. will soon have better access to healthcare and technology training close to home.

Post-secondary students in rural and remote Indigenous communities throughout B.C. will soon have better access to healthcare and technology training close to home.

The Province is providing Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) $3.4 million for the purchase of three modern, innovative, and fully equipped mobile training units that offer the latest in healthcare and information technology, including simulators, beds, computer workstations and multi-media equipment.

The institute, BC's only Indigenous-led public post-secondary institution, has seen increased demand for delivery of information technology (IT) and health-related programming in Indigenous communities.

The new mobile training units will deliver programs that lead to careers as health-care assistants and licensed practical nurses, and careers in information technology.

In a release, NVIT said it faced challenges delivering healthcare and technology training programs to rural and remote communities, largely due to difficulty securing facilities and resources.

The new mobile training units will open the door for Indigenous people to access post-secondary training close to home and to receive training in culturally aware, in-demand sectors such as health care and technology.