THUNDER BAY—Oshki-Wenjack Education Institute has just received confirmation that it will receive funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to expand its health care programs.
In their news release, it was stated that the funding will assist the school to increase incoming student enrollment and enhance its health care programs.
Oshki-Wenjack health care programs prepare students to be able to provide care in Northern communities and teach best practices that are culturally appropriate.
According to this news release, The funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities is in accordance with the “Expansion of Indigenous Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker Education at Indigenous Institutes Program Guidelines. This funding is aimed at increasing the number of students entering post secondary Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker education programs delivered at Oshki-Wenjack in partnership with Confederation College. The number of Personal Support Worker program offerings at Oshki-Wenjack’s Thunder Bay Campus will increase with a new cohort to start each semester beginning in Fall 2022 through to Spring 2024.”
Student who enroll in this program come from the many communities around the region.
The news release indicated stated that, “Students enrolled in this two-semester program will have tuition and books fully paid and are eligible to receive an additional $2,100 scholarship. Further assistance for students includes a clinical stipend for a paid work placement. Oshki-Wenjack will also offer two additional Practical Nursing Program cohorts in the Winter of 2023 and Winter of 2024.”
For those students enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program, "They will receive scholarships valued at $11,000 over the course of the program which runs for five semesters. A laboratory setting for skills assessment and simulation activities is being created and will be in place by this upcoming September."
Oshki-Wenjack believes that this is a very exciting enrichment to the program offerings at Oshki-Wenjack. “We are happy to offer these two programs to the communities we serve. By increasing the number of program offerings at Oshki-Wenjack, we will help address the growing gap in health human resources in these areas at the community level.” President Deschamps added the new lab will prepare students for working in a northern setting and will include best practices that are culturally appropriate. Oshki-Wenjack offers a number of support services and access to cultural activities ensuring academic and personal success for all learners.
For more information about the Personal Support Worker program and the Practical Nursing Program, visit: www.oshki.ca You can contact the Admissions office at: ahead@oshki.ca or call them at 1-866-6636-7454.
