Program will train 25 new Aboriginal health care aides, tuition-free

ACC is actively recruiting for a program that will train 25 new Aboriginal health care aides in Brandon.

The Aboriginal Comprehensive Health Care Aide certificate is a 24-week (six-month) program for First Nations and Métis people living in Brandon or otherwise off-reserve. It will start June 15, 2015 and students will be ready to start their new careers by the end of the year.

Partially funded by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, the program is offered completely tuition-free.

“This is an incredible prospect if you’re looking for a career in health care,” said Karen Hargreaves, Dean of Health and Human Services at ACC. “There is an abundance of jobs in this field.”

The Comprehensive Health Care Aide program is perfect for caring, compassionate people who are respectful to those of all ages and cultures. Graduates are well-prepared for a rewarding career, in which they can make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Typically, graduates find jobs in hospitals, care facilities, mental health facilities and community settings, including home care. Graduates are also eligible to receive a block credit transfer of 15 academic credits to ACC’s Practical Nursing Program.

“Health care aides are an essential part of our health care system, and we employ many CHCA grads from ACC,” said Larissa Kominko, Recruitment Supervisor at Prairie Mountain Health. “There is a huge demand for people who want to make a positive difference for people in need.”

Because the program starts so soon, people who are interested in registering for the Aboriginal Comprehensive Health Care Aide program should plan to attend an information session, scheduled for the Monday, May 25 from 6–10 p.m. in Room 243 of ACC’s Victoria Avenue East campus. People should come prepared to write the CAAT-C assessment test, and if possible, should bring their high school or post-secondary transcripts.

For more information about the program, people interested in registering can call or email Tanya Sumner at 204.725.8700, extension 6881, or sumner@assiniboine.net.