BURNABYâWorking in partnership with the government of British Columbia, the Health Sciences Professional Bargaining Association (HSPBA), led by the Health Sciences Association of BC, has secured $3 million in new funding to support professional development for members covered by the HSPBA collective agreement.
The funding, provided by the BC Ministry of Health, is aimed at providing support for health science professionals needing to maintain and upgrade areas of specializationâespecially welcome at a time of extraordinary challenge to B.C.âs health care system and the people who keep it running.
Key points about the new professional development funding:
- The funding is to be allocated to training and upgrading skills for HSPBA members working in professions experiencing shortages, or in rural and remote locations, as well as ongoing required professional development for all HSPBA members;
- The funding will apply to education or training commenced between April 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022;
- The education or training must pertain to professional development in a health science professional discipline being practiced in the public health care system; and
- Eligible expenses for reimbursement include tuition fees, registration fees, cost of required books or materials, and other reasonable education-related expenses and may also include reasonable costs of travel and accommodation if the applicant must travel or temporarily relocate to attend education or training or related clinical placement.
All health science professionals covered by the HSPBA collective agreement, which includes members of HSA, BCGEU, CUPE, PEA and HEU, are eligible to apply for funding, which will be allocated to the constituent unions on a pro-rata basis.
