Southeast College announced Thursday that it has partnered with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to offer a full-time Continuing Care Assistant program starting in March 2023.

In a release, the college said it will work with Assiniboia Union Hospital to use their facility for classroom and lab space. The program is 33 weeks long and will combine hands on classroom learning with practical clinical experience. The college said it will provide practicum placements which will give students experience in long term care and special care settings, and possibly acute care as well.

"Southeast College is committed through various healthcare programming opportunities to contribute to and help strengthen the Government of Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resources Plan," said Dr. Vicky Roy, President and CEO of Southeast College. "The addition of this program will help in meeting the provinces’ goal of building and maintaining stability for the long-term needs of our provincial health system."

The SHA said the program is particularly exciting for students who live in rural areas.

"The Saskatchewan Health Authority is excited to build a partnership with Southeast College that creates opportunities for rural Saskatchewan residents to learn where they live," said Brenda Schwan, Interim Vice-President, Integrated Rural Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority. "We anticipate the benefits of this partnership will expand far beyond the classroom and we will be welcoming program graduates into our rural workforce in the near future."

Applications for the new program are already open and you can apply on the college's website.