Prime Highlights :
- Nova Scotia has expanded disability support education with new training seats and bursaries.
- The province is introducing microcredentials focused on rights-based support practices.
Key Facts :
- Nova Scotia Community College is partnering with the province on the programme.
- More than $1.5 million is being invested in workforce training initiatives.
Background :
The Province of Nova Scotia has expanded education and training opportunities in the disability support sector as part of efforts to strengthen the workforce and advance the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy.
The province has partnered with Nova Scotia Community College to add 30 new seats to its disability support professional programme, increasing access to training for students across the region. The additional seats will be offered at the Ivany campus in Dartmouth and will complement the existing 100 full- and part-time seats available at Kentville and Sydney campuses, with classes scheduled to begin in September.
The government said the expansion is intended to build a stronger and more skilled disability support workforce while ensuring services remain rights-based and person-centred. To remove financial barriers, the province will cover the full cost of tuition, textbooks, and mandatory student fees through provincially funded bursaries.
Alongside the seat expansion, the province is investing in two new microcredential programmes focused on human-rights-based practice. These short and flexible courses will create up to 1,350 seats for existing professionals already working in the sector, helping them strengthen skills in individualized planning, inclusion, and rights-based support services.
The initiative also includes career promotion resources for high school students, workplace safety support for service providers, and the development of a leadership microcredential programme.
The province said it is investing more than $1.5 million in these measures as part of a broader $180 million plan to modernize and transform the disability support system.
