April 26 , 2006
Archived Content
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community support workers needed
by local employers
Camosun College offers training this Fall
– free info session, May 2 –
Employment prospects are excellent right now for community support workers to work with people with developmental disabilities and local employers say there aren’t enough qualified people to fill the jobs.
By contrast, Camosun College has several spaces open for students interested in gaining qualifications for a health care career through Camosun’s Community Support Worker program.
Camosun’s 10-month full–time program begins in September 2006 and includes both classroom and practicum learning experiences for those who want to learn about community living, inclusion, holistic health and advocacy as they relate to people with disabilities.
“As a Community Support Worker you effectively support and enhance the quality of life of citizens with developmental disabilities in our community,” says Patti Odynski, program leader and instructor. ”Graduates work as education assistants in schools, group homes, day programs, supported employment and community settings. They also receive credit toward the second year of Camosun’s Community, Family and Child Studies diploma, with further transfer to third-year studies in Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria.”
“Camosun’s Community Support Worker certificate is the preferred credential of many southern Vancouver Island employers because of our experienced instructors, our current, relevant curriculum and our faculty-supervised on-the-job practicum experiences,” she adds.
“The job prospects in Victoria and throughout Canada are excellent for entry level Community Support Workers,” she says. “Salaries are in the $14 to $20 per hour range.”
“The quality of the learning that Camosun’s Community Support Worker students are exposed to prepares them well for the work they will do upon graduation,” says Julie Hickey, program manager for the Victoria Association for Community Living. “We are very satisfied with the skills and knowledge that Camosun graduates bring to our organization.”
“Being a student in the Community Support Worker program has been an amazing experience,” says graduate Lisa Osbitsch. “The instructors are supportive, flexible and have a wealth of knowledge. Camosun has given me a greater sense of self-empowerment, many new friends and an incredible choice of career options. We grads are in high demand and we can truly make a world of difference in the lives of the people we support.”
To apply, students must have 40 hours of related volunteer work or equivalent and a C+ grade in English 12 or equivalent. Camosun’s Community Support Worker program begins September 2006.
FREE INFORMATION SESSIONS are offered. The next session is Tuesday, May 2, 5pm to 6pm, Wilna Thomas Building room 205, Lansdowne Campus, 3100 Foul Bay Rd.
For more information contact Patti Odynski, Program Leader/Instructor, 370-3223 or odynskip@camosun.bc.ca
Contact
Patti Odynski
Program Leader, Community Support Worker Program
Camosun College Tel: (250) 370-3223
Email: odynskip@camosun.bc.ca
Last updated: June 14, 2006 8:20 am
