RAISING FUNDS - The CUmberland Health Authority and area health care foundations are distributing brochures seeking financial support for the new Cumberland Health Care Careers Bursary Program. Hospital volunteer jean Surette is shown stuffing enveloped to prepare the brochures for mailing.

October 19, 2004 - Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole

CHA seeking public support for new bursary program

Program open to CUmberland County students only, bursary is up to $4,000 per year
AMHERST - Residents of CUmberland County will find information on a new an innovative program in their mail boxes over the next few days.

The Cumberland Health Authority and local health care foundations are distributing brochures seeking financial support for the new Cumberland Health Care Careers Bursary Program.

The bursary program is a joint undertaking of Cumberland Health Authority and the health care foundations serving Cumberland County.

"The goal of this exciting program is to assist the CHA in addressing anticipated human resource shortages in various health care professions in the upcoming years," board chair Bruce Saunders said Tuesday. "With projections showing close to half of our present staff eligible for retirement in the next 10 years we must be proactive in finding ways to fill the vacancies we will be facing. The CHA is very grateful that the foundations share our vision for the future and have agreed to participate in this program with us."

Under the terms and conditions of the program, which is open to Cumberland County students only, successful applicants would receive a bursary of up to $4,000 per year to support their studies in a number of health care professionals. Student participation would include signing an agreement with the health authority for a return for service upon graduation equal to the number of years for which they receive a bursary. Preference will be given to students enrolling in programs of study where there is an identified need for staffing at the time of their graduation.

With plan to expand the program to fund bursaries to a total of 16 students by 2007, financial support from the community is crucial.

"This program is the first of its kind in Nova Scotia," said Rev. Greg Doyle, member of the South Cumberland Community Care Centre Foundation and chair of the program's steering committee. "In order to ensure its success, the community at large must recognize that the program will serve two important goals - filling vacancies in health care professions and bringing young people back to their home area to live and work," he commented.

The first round of applications for the program were received in lat August and announcements on this year's successful candidates will be made in the next few weeks. In addition to receiving bursaries, students will also be offered summer employment with the health authority during their university/college careers.

Further information on the program can be received from the human resources department of the Cumberland Health Authority at 667-5400, extension 6237.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the program should contact their local health care foundation or call the Cumberland Health Care Foundation at (667-5400, extension 6126.)