CAOT and CAOT-BC Applauds Initial Plans for Expansion of OT Training Program in BC

Re: Occupational and physical therapy seats coming to northern B.C.

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists -BC Chapter (CAOT-BC) is thrilled with the BC Government announcement of funding for 24 new occupational therapy training seats in BC. The province is providing $1.1 million to expand the UBC Master of Occupational Therapy program to the north in partnership with UNBC with 16 students ready to be accepted in September 2022. Eight seats have also been added to the UBC Vancouver program starting in September 2020.

This is a time to celebrate that the longstanding provincial shortage of occupational therapists is being addressed by this government. Increasing the number of occupational therapy seats at UBC and UNBC will enable more British Columbians to train closer to home and, in turn work closer to their home communities. This is especially welcome news for people living in the North, one of two regions in BC where residents have had an increasingly difficult time accessing the vital health services occupational therapists provide over the past years. Expansion in this underserved area of the province will help the students that live there study close to home and then work locally.

This has been a key advocacy issue for CAOT-BC for more than a decade. Catherine Backman, President of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists says “this announcement is important to improving access to occupational therapy for British Columbians, and for BC students to study and work closer to home.” The BC Board member for CAOT, Giovanna Boniface, states “there has been a steady increase in demand for occupational therapy over the past decade. The increase in British Columbia-based training is a step in the right direction to increase access to vital occupational therapy services in underserved regions including the north and Fraser Valley.”

These 24 training seats are an important step towards addressing our workforce shortage, but more work is necessary to improve access to services for all regions of the province, including the underserved Fraser Valley. CAOT-BC will continue to work with the government to ensure our workforce keeps pace with the growing demand for services and the need to train our bright future students here at home.  

About Occupational Therapy

OTs are regulated health professionals that improve the health and wellbeing of Canadians by creating client-centred solutions that help them participate more fully in activities that are important to their everyday lives. OTs work as valued members in health teams that support people with a variety of physical, mental, or cognitive conditions in their homes, communities, hospitals, workplaces, and schools. Occupational therapy interventions improve lives and save money across the age span in all aspects of society. By considering the individual in his or her environments, an OT is able to determine the skills required to maximize an individual’s potential to participate and thrive in their daily lives.

Contact:

Tanya Fawkes-Kirby
Managing Director, CAOT-BC
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
1-800-434-2268 ext. 265
tfkirby@caot.ca

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