PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A new free training program is helping Prince George residents facing barriers to employment build skills, certifications and work experience for careers in health-care administration.
The Helping Hands project, delivered by Kopar Administration Ltd., combines occupational skills training, industry-recognized certifications and hands-on workplace experience over a 25-week program. The B.C. government is investing nearly $600,000 in the project, in partnership with the federal government through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
Sheila Malcolmson, B.C.’s minister of social development and poverty reduction, said the program is meant to help people find stable, in-demand work.
The 25-week program is structured in five phases: four weeks of essential and employability skills training, 16 weeks of occupational skills training, two weeks of job-search skills training, two weeks of on-the-job work experience, and one week of follow-up employment support.
Coursework includes medical terminology and office procedures, medical billing basics, health-care communication and interpersonal skills, Indigenous cultural safety, infection control awareness, and mental health and substance use awareness, alongside digital office skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Teams. Participants also receive workplace readiness and job-search training.
Graduates can earn a range of industry certifications through the program, including Basic First Aid, WHMIS, FOIPPA Foundations, Workplace Health and Safety Orientation, Infection Control Awareness, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Safer Spaces Training.
Federal Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu said health-care administrators play an important role supporting both patients and health-care teams, calling them a vital part of the system.
Ken Newell, operations manager at Kopar Administration Ltd., said the program is designed to help participants build confidence and connect with employers as they work toward stable employment, noting that many people face real barriers to gaining the skills and experience needed to start a new career.
Bruce McKay, vice-president academic at the College of New Caledonia, said the project addresses a need on both sides of the labour market.
As part of the program, local health-care, community-service and related employers are invited to host participants for two-week practicum placements, giving trainees real workplace experience while helping employers connect with job-ready candidates.
Program organizers say Helping Hands is intended to support both individual career development and the broader health-care workforce needs of northern B.C. More information on the program is available by contacting Kopar Administration Ltd. directly.
