More Community Support for Healthcare Recruitment, Retention

Communities working on recruiting and retaining healthcare workers can now apply for up to $100,000 to support their efforts.

The Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund, now in its third year, is open for applications for 2025. The fund supports projects that encourage healthcare professionals and their families to move to and stay in Nova Scota, reduce social and cultural barriers and create a welcoming environment.

In the first two years, 58 applicants were successful, with initiatives including recruitment videos, career fairs, multicultural events, recognition events, transportation solutions and a mentorship program.

“We need healthcare professionals all across the province. The community fund helps local organizations welcome these professionals into their communities and support them in staying,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “It has been inspiring to see the effects of the fund over its first two years, and I look forward to seeing what innovative ideas community groups will have this year.”

Non-profits, other community organizations and municipalities can apply for funding by February 21. Virtual information sessions will be held weekly for those interested. Fund guidelines, the application form and the information session schedule are available at: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund

Priority will be given to projects that:

• address the social and cultural needs of internationally educated health professionals
• are led by equity-deserving groups
• include settlement support (including help with finding a home, transportation, schooling, child care and long-term community connections).

The OHPR Community Fund supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives, an action item in Action for Health, the government’s strategic plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

“Funding received from the OHPR Community Fund has been instrumental in enhancing what our organization has been able to accomplish in terms of the attraction, settlement and retention of physicians and medical learners in Lunenburg County. This funding has enabled us to create a website and marketing materials, engage a consultant to build a two-year operational plan, host retention events for physicians and their families, celebrate our preceptors, elevate our medical student experience, and so much more. Without the community fund, this work would not have been nearly as successful, or even at all possible.”
— Martha Marchand, Physician Settlement and Retention Co-ordinator, Health Services Foundation of the South Shore

“Communities in Nova Scotia are learning about the best ways to welcome internationally educated health professionals and the small but powerful things we can do to help them build connections, networks and friendships. The OHPR Community Fund allowed us to test out a program that brought the spouses and families of newcomer healthcare professionals together so they can create a network of others who are going through a similar experience and a network that begins to expand throughout Cape Breton. The participation and feedback have exceeded our greatest hopes for the program. We wouldn’t have had the ability to facilitate these spaces without OHPR’s support.”
— Erika Shea, President and CEO, New Dawn Enterprises

Quick Facts:

• two funding streams are available: community identified projects and community readiness supports; groups may request funding from one or both
• the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment will work to connect groups within the same community to encourage collaboration

Additional Resources:

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/