​There is still time for secondary students interested in enrolling in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) Program through the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) to register for the 2021-2022 school year.

The Personal Support Worker Program is a program held at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School (AMSS) and Wallaceburg District Secondary School (WDSS) and consists of more than 700 hours of theoretical and experiential hands-on learning through Clinical (Co-op) work placements in the healthcare field. Students enrolled in the program earn credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the Personal Support Worker Certificate concurrently.

The courses are taught by collaborative teaching teams that include regulated health care professionals registered with the College of Nurses and certified Ontario teachers. Programs follow the Ontario Ministry of Education expectations, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Vocational Learning Outcomes, and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care industry standards.

More than 15 LKDSB students from AMSS in Sarnia and WDSS in Wallaceburg graduated from the LKDSB Personal Support Worker program in June 2021. Graduates from the program received a paid placement stipend from a Ministry of Education initiative to recognize students for their clinical placements in spring 2021. The paid placement stipend will be available for students registered in the 2021-2022 school year.

Students graduating from the LKDSB's Personal Support Worker Program are industry-ready and are able to support a growing need in the community for health care supports.

“By completing an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the Personal Support Worker Certificate concurrently, students are able to get a head start on entering the job market," said John Howitt, Director of Education. “The LKDSB Personal Support Worker Program is a wonderful opportunity for students and will continue to infuse the community with much-needed additional health care supports."

The program is open to Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton secondary students and deadline for students to register is Thursday, September 2. For more information, please visit https://ontarioschoolboardpsw.ca/ ​

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For additional information contact:
Randy Campbell, Chair of the Board, 226-996-9717
John Howitt, Director of Education, 519-336-1500, Ext 31297

For reference information contact:
Heather Hughes, Public Relations Officer, 519-336-1500, Ext. 31262
August 18, 2021
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