Orangeville Campus of Georgian College to Begin Accepting Students for Acceleration Personal Support Worker Program

9 March 2021

Dufferin-Caledon:  The Orangeville campus of Georgian College will begin accepting applications to Ontario’s new accelerated training program for Personal Support Workers (PSW) starting this week. The program is part of the Ontario government’s $115 million investment to train up to 8,200 new personal support workers (PSWs) for high-demand jobs in Ontario’s health and long-term care sectors. In collaboration with Colleges Ontario, all 24 publicly assisted colleges will offer this innovative, fully funded program. This is part of the government’s Long-Term Care Staffing Plan, one of the largest recruitment and training drives in the province’s history.

“From needing assistance at home, to our residents in long-term care homes; PSWs are a critical part of the daily care that many Ontarians rely on,” said Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones. “COVID-19 has highlighted the need for even more PSWs in the province. This investment in accelerated training will see 8,200 graduates of the program enter the workforce by the end of 2021. I am pleased that the Orangeville campus of Georgian College is part of this new training program.”

“PSWs are an integral part of the health-care team and the backbone of care in Ontario,” said Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College. “The pandemic has proven there simply aren’t enough of them. At Georgian, we’re prepared to partner with the government and our local health providers to deliver quality training through an in-depth, hands-on accelerated format to get PSW professionals in our long-term care and acute care facilities at this crucial time.”

The Accelerated PSW Training Program is a tuition-free opportunity for 6,000 new students and is expected to take only six months to complete, rather than the typical eight months. After three months of coursework, and experiential learning in a clinical setting, students will complete the final three months in paid onsite training in a long-term care home or in a home and community care environment. Registration for the program is available through the Ontario College Application Service.

The province is also offering tuition assistance to in-process PSW students who started the program at one of Ontario’s publicly-assisted colleges in January 2021. These students will be eligible to receive a $2,000 tuition grant to help them complete their studies, as well as a stipend to complete the clinical placement part of their training.

This PSW training program is yet another way Ontario is collaborating with its partners to provide innovative services and end hallway health care, build a 21st century long-term care system, and respond to the impact COVID-19 has had on seniors and their families.

Additional Resources:

 Learn more about becoming a PSW https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/health-food-and-medical/personal-support-worker-psw?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=announcement&utm_campaign=psw

-30-