Fleming College and Scarborough Health Network partner to strengthen Ontario’s health-care workforce

PETERBOROUGH, ON — (August 24, 2026) — Fleming College and Scarborough Health Network (SHN) are partnering to provide tuition-free training that will prepare new personal support workers and help current nurses develop skills for delivering care in rural and remote communities. Training will begin in winter 2027.

Led by SHN, with Fleming College serving as the training partner, the project is supported by a $2.2 million investment from the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream.

The project is expected to train 80 new personal support workers and provide specialized rural and remote nursing training to 30 Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses. All training will be completed by June 30, 2027.

“This partnership brings together Scarborough Health Network’s health-care leadership and Fleming College’s expertise in applied, career-focused education,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Interim President of Fleming College. “By removing financial barriers and providing learners with practical training and comprehensive supports, we are creating more accessible pathways into rewarding health-care careers while responding directly to workforce needs across Ontario.”

The project, being deployed through Fleming Continuing Education, will offer two training streams:

• Accelerated Personal Support Worker training: Participants will complete 12 weeks of theory-based instruction followed by a paid, 300-hour work placement. The accelerated format will help learners develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to enter the workforce quickly and confidently.
• Rural and Remote Nursing micro-credential: Current Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses will complete three asynchronous courses taken concurrently over 14 weeks. The training will help nurses strengthen the specialized skills needed to provide care in rural and remote settings.

Tuition will be free for eligible participants. Personal support worker learners will also receive paid placements, while wraparound supports and stipends will help eligible participants overcome financial and personal barriers to completing their training.

“Building a strong and sustainable health-care workforce means creating opportunities for people to enter the field and supporting current professionals as they expand their skills,” said David Graham, President and CEO of Scarborough Health Network. “Together with Fleming College, we are helping more people access health-care training while preparing personal support workers and nurses to meet the needs of patients and communities.”

Recruitment will focus on eligible domestic participants, with targeted outreach to women, newcomers to Canada, racialized people, and members of underserved communities. Training may be delivered through multiple cohorts to provide participants with flexible entry points and appropriate learning supports.

Applications for the first cohort are expected to open in the fall. Fleming College’s Continuing Education web page will include information about eligibility, program schedules, and the application process in the coming weeks.

About Scarborough Health Network (SHN)
SHN is shaping the future of care. Across three hospitals and several community-based locations, SHN offers a spectrum of essential and specialized health services for a diverse community, delivering exceptional quality care through all stages of life. We are a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, and a key partner for the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, while SHN Research Institute is at the forefront of multicultural health research. With support from the Love, Scarborough fundraising campaign, SHN is working to Build It Forward through a multi-year redevelopment strategy. We are bringing innovative, state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and technology to our health network to meet Scarborough’s evolving needs into the future. Visit SHN.ca.

About Fleming College
About Fleming College Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the College features more than 85 full-time programs in Applied Health and Community Services, Skilled Trades and Technology, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Art and Design, Business, and General Arts and Sciences, and hundreds of Continuing Education courses. Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.

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