Article originally published via The Chronicle Herald. L-R: Prakash and Pooja Kulkarni, pictured with their two children, are both registered nurses at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridegewater.
Scotiabank provides $500K donation to the QEII Foundation, helping newcomer families thrive
Living in Nova Scotia is a dream come true for Prakash Kulkarni, who, along with his wife and two small children, moved to Canada from India over a year ago.
He is a registered nurse in Bridgewater.
“It was a dream day when I received my job offer,’’ he recalls.
The life-changing opportunity for Kulkarni was made possible by Nova Scotia’s International Community of Health Care Workers Engagement (NICHE) program. It was created to focus on the recruitment and retention of internationally educated and trained health professionals through its support of work, family and community connections.
The program recently received a huge boost to extend its impact.
Scotiabank, through its ScotiaRISE community investment strategy, has provided a $500,000 gift to the QEII Foundation supporting NICHE’s efforts to help international health professionals thrive in Nova Scotia. The donation is part of the QEII’s Foundation’s $100-million We Are campaign.
“It’s a very generous gift. It means we can do more and continue to expand and improve the program – helping newcomers feel supported both at work and in community to establish their new home away from home,’’ says Dr. Annette Elliott Rose, Nova Scotia Health chief nurse executive and vice-president of clinical performance and professional practice.
Dr. Elliott Rose leads a team that provides internationally educated health workers like Kulkarni with support they need to practice and care for Nova Scotians.
Although NICHE initially focused on recruiting nurses, Dr. Elliott Rose says it has been expanded to include other high-demand international health professionals. A number of partners are involved with the program, which has brought almost 800 internationally educated nurses into the province to meet its growing demands.
“The NICHE program isn’t only about recruiting people, this is about people staying here, building their lives here, and bringing their families to be part of community and then building their health careers with us,’’ she explains.
This ScotiaRISE funding will play a big role in helping newcomer healthcare professionals and their families settle into their communities and ultimately make Nova Scotia their long-term home.
Kulkarni is an excellent example.
He has been working at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater for over a year. He previously worked for 14 years as a nurse in India. He heard about NICHE and considered it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He applied online in February 2023 and within 40 days received an invitation to meet a delegation group to discuss the opportunity.
He and his family appreciate that NICHE is not only about employment but helping families settle into the community and learning how to deal with other necessities, if necessary, like banking and child care, for example.
The family arrived in Canada eight months after the process began and a mere nine months later, purchased their first home. Kulkarni is grateful for the tremendous support he and his family have received through NICHE.
“Without their support, none of this would have happened. It’s a great program that assists newcomer healthcare providers in the province.’’
Kulkarni says he and his family are enjoying the natural beauty of Nova Scotia and everything it has to offer.
He’s grateful to Scotiabank for its invaluable ScotiaRISE partnership with the QEII Foundation, enabling the NICHE program to enhance the connections and establishment of more international professionals in Nova Scotian communities.
“It’s going to help a lot of people. Scotiabank is supporting a noble cause and, with their support, they’re going to help more healthcare workers and their families transition here and ultimately help patients receive the care they need in Nova Scotia,’’ Kulkarni says.
Scotiabank’s support for the NICHE program aligns to ScotiaRISE; its $500-million commitment and community investment strategy that provides funding to organizations to promote economic resilience by helping to improve access to educational progression, employment opportunities and for newcomers to thrive in communities.
“We recognize the essential contribution of internationally trained healthcare professionals to Canada’s healthcare system and the significant role immigrants play in our country’s future prosperity,” explains Nicola Ray Smith, regional senior vice-president of the Atlantic region for Scotiabank.
“By helping newcomer healthcare workers and their families feel welcomed and supported, NICHE plays a vital role in helping these families make Canada their new home, while strengthening our healthcare system in Nova Scotia.”
According to QEII Foundation president and CEO, Susan Mullin, the recruitment and retention of top medical talent is a key pillar of its $100-million We Are campaign.
“This ScotiaRISE partnership will help ensure our province not only retains our newly-recruited healthcare professionals, but that those individuals and their families thrive. We’re thrilled and incredibly grateful to have Scotiabank’s leadership and philanthropy at the forefront of these efforts.”
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