Free PSW Training Offered to Address Shortage

With a Canada wide shortage of personal support workers, an effort is underway at the local level to address the problem.

Several community organizations are coming together to offer PSW certificate training free of charge to students who will also be paid to attend the course for the first four weeks.

Kim Utley is a senior lead at Saint Elizabeth Health Care.

She says, with an aging population, the need for PSW's continues to grow.

"PSW's are essential in helping patients remain in their home assisting in delivery of home and community care and providing services in long-term care and retirement homes. Certainly, we have a need for these very valuable individuals."

Utley says it's a win-win for the students and those in need of a PSW.

"It's an excellent opportunity for people to achieve free education. We train individuals as home support workers, which is a four week paid program, before they start the PSW training. So there's no down time for the student from a pay cheque."

She says funding is coming from a number of sources to help make the program possible.

"Saint Elizabeth Health Care recognized, several years ago, the growing need for trained, qualified personal support workers. So truly a creative and collaborative effort, multiple organizations have come together to meet this demand."

The first session will be held in Amherstburg with a start date of January 20 — more sessions will be held throughout the region in the coming months.

More information can be found on the Saint Elizabeth Health Care website.

— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi