Attracting Healthcare Workers to Inverness
Students at Dalbrae Academy attend a career fair to learn more about healthcare jobs from local practitioners. (Contributed)
A recruitment website, awards and recognition celebrations, school career fairs, promotional videos and a strategic plan will help the Municipality of the County of Inverness recruit healthcare workers to Cape Breton this year.
The municipality is receiving $88,000 from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund for these community-led projects.
“This direct funding from the Province takes the ideas and creative inputs from the community and puts them front and centre as they work directly to attract new healthcare workers to Inverness County,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment.
In total, 30 organizations from across the province will receive support through the OHPR Community Fund this year. More details will be announced soon.
The fund, established in 2022, is an action item in Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare. It supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives organized by local non-profit organizations, charitable community groups, cultural organizations, member-based organizations and boards, municipalities and chambers of commerce.
Quotes:
“We have much work to do to show potential healthcare workers what a great life they can build in Cape Breton for themselves and their families. This funding helps us get on with the work and hopefully soon see the results and connections that will follow.”
— Keith MacDonald, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of the County of Inverness
Quick Facts:
- the OHPR Community Fund supported 28 community-led recruitment and retention initiatives in 2022-23, investing more than $1.5 million into a range of projects, including healthcare worker recognition events, online support tools, marketing videos and even a community garden
Additional Resources:
OHPR Community Fund news releases: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=287
Fund guidelines and details are available at: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund
Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf