Province Offering Large Training Bursaries to Support Future Paramedics
The Government of Saskatchewan is extending financial assistance to individuals interested in pursuing a career as frontline paramedics in the province. To support this initiative, training bursaries will be offered to students and recent graduates of paramedic programs who commit to joining the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Saskatchewan. The administration of these bursaries will be handled by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Rural and Remote Health Minister, Everett Hindley, emphasized the government’s commitment to providing stable and dependable emergency medical services that cater to the needs of communities. A significant aspect of achieving this goal involves training more paramedics to work in the Saskatchewan EMS sector and encouraging their participation, particularly in rural areas.
With a one-time funding allocation of $530,000, a total of 58 bursaries will be granted to support paramedic training for EMS providers within the province. The bursaries will vary in amounts, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Rod Mackenzie, Executive Director of Provincial Clinical and Support Services-Community Care at Saskatchewan Health Authority, underscored the significance of these bursaries in fostering the development of the healthcare workforce and enhancing the provision of high-quality emergency medical services. By investing in the education and training of paramedics, the government aims to nurture a new generation of dedicated healthcare professionals who will play a vital role in delivering critical care to communities.
Steven Skoworodko, President of Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan (PSCS), expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts in recognizing paramedics as indispensable and trustworthy healthcare professionals. The support provided to recruit and retain additional paramedics in the province is seen as a significant step forward.
Paramedic training programs in Saskatchewan are primarily offered by institutions like Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan’s regional colleges. Medavie HealthEd also provides an Advanced Care Paramedic program.
To qualify for bursaries, candidates need to meet the following criteria:
- Be accepted into, or a new graduate of, a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program.
- Pass pre-employment screening process through the Saskatchewan Health Authority or a contracted EMS provider.
- Sign a return for service agreement for a minimum of two years employment with ground EMS in Saskatchewan, operated by the SHA or a contracted EMS provider.
- ACP candidates will need to sign the agreement with services currently designated as, or prioritized for, future Advanced Life Support designation.
Recently, the number of Primary Care Paramedic training seats at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and regional colleges was increased to 252 as part of a substantial expansion of health care training opportunities. This expansion, which includes more than 550 new training seats in 18 high-demand health occupations, was announced earlier in the year. All new Primary Care Paramedic training seats will be available in fall 2023.
To further support the development of the healthcare workforce, the government is investing nearly $100 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year into Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan. This investment aims to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more healthcare professionals in the province.
For more details visit https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/careers-volunteering/careers/career-profiles/emergency-medical-services/paramedic-training-bursaries
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