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Manitoba Government investing over $12.5 million for new training centre at Red River College Polytechnic
To date, the province has invested approximately $30 million and added 289 new nursing seats at six post-secondary institutions. (File photo: Irwan iwe/Unsplash)
The Manitoba government is investing more than $12.5 million in an innovative, interdisciplinary health and community services simulation centre at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) to support its commitment to train more nurses and health-care professionals, and strengthen Manitoba’s health-care system, Premier Heather Stefanson, Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes, and Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.
“Today is an important step forward in our commitment to add 400 new nursing training seats throughout the province to ensure Manitoba has a strong workforce to support health system needs, now and into the future,” said Stefanson. “Our government is proud to work collaboratively with RRC Polytech and all post-secondary institutions to establish this new multi-purpose facility that will support 115 new nursing training seats, as well as other health-care disciplines.
Last year, the Manitoba government committed to add 400 new nursing education seats over the next few years. To date, the province has invested approximately $30 million and added 289 new nursing seats at six post-secondary institutions. This new simulation centre will support an additional 115 nursing seats, exceeding the government’s commitment, the premier noted.
“The centre will help students receive the training needed to thrive in nursing and other health-care fields, leading to fulfilling careers in vital areas of our province’s economy,” said Reyes. “It will be a key component in realizing the next phase of our nursing-seat expansion on the path to reaching our 400-seat goal.”
This investment, along with the government’s valued partnership with RRC Polytech, will help create a simulation and training facility applicable to a wide range of health-care programs including nursing, health-care aide, paramedicine, diagnostic technologist programs, as well as community services and disability support worker training programs, Reyes noted.
“The Manitoba government’s investment in the Health Sciences and Community Services Simulation Centre is critical to growing 15 allied health and community services programs at RRC Polytech, and in turn, providing career-ready graduates to meet labour market needs,” said Fred Meier, president and CEO, RRC Polytech. “The centre will engage students in transformative learning; for example, the inclusion of a simulated apartment setting creates a realistic scenario where paramedics and direct support professionals interact with patients in their own homes and incorporate cultural home-based protocols and person-centred care.”
The centre will be located at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus in Winnipeg. The new facility will include equipment and technology that will reflect current health-care settings and simulate actual health-care situations. This will enhance learning and prepare students for clinical placements and employment. It will also help build system capacity through partnerships with other post-secondary institutions and other partners.
“This centre will provide quality training for students working toward careers in the health sciences, helping them to gain valuable skills and experience in a simulated, supportive learning environment,” said Gordon. “This new facility will help learners succeed in their fields, strengthening the health-care system for all Manitobans.”
The new facility is anticipated to be completed in the next two years, the premier noted. In the meantime, the province will continue to work with RRC Polytech to advance this project and all post-secondary institutions to determine the allocation of the new nursing training seats.
