HSA secures $3 million in new funding for professional development
Please note that applications for this fund are not yet open. Members will be notified when application forms are available.
The Health Sciences Association of BC is pleased to announce $3 million in new funding for professional development of health science professionals. The new funding, secured from the BC Ministry of Health, is the latest in the union’s long-standing program of support for the professional development of members, building on $3 million provided in 2018 and another $3 million in 2021.
The funding, available to all health science professionals covered by the HSPBA collective agreement, will support further specialization of skills in key professions. With BC’s health care system now struggling with dire shortages of health science professions in many disciplines, the funding is an important part of the urgent action needed to train, recruit and retain these specialized health professionals.
“We are encouraged that the BC government has contributed another $3 million just a year after their last renewal of this fund,” said HSA President Kane Tse. “It shows our efforts to get the government to understand the urgency of the shortage situation are getting through.”
“We’ll keep building on this, with a focus on getting the government to take action on adding new training seats for key professions across BC and, at the bargaining table, to achieve long-overdue pay increases.”
Key points about the new professional development funding:
- The funding is to be allocated to training and upgrading skills for HSPBA members working in professions experiencing shortages, or in rural and remote locations, as well as ongoing required professional development for all HSPBA members;
- The funding will apply to education or training commenced between April 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023;
- The education or training must pertain to professional development in a health science professional discipline being practiced in the public health care system; and
- Eligible expenses for reimbursement include tuition fees, registration fees, cost of required books or materials, and other reasonable education-related expenses and may also include reasonable costs of travel and accommodation if the applicant must travel or temporarily relocate to attend education or training or related clinical placement.
All health science professionals covered by the HSPBA collective agreement, which includes members of HSA, BCGEU, CUPE, PEA and HEU are eligible to apply for funding. Application forms will be available on the HSA website very soon.