Cambrian College Introduces New Emergency Services Communications Program

SUDBURY – Across Ontario, there is a need for more emergency services dispatchers.

Cambrian College is answering that call.

Starting in January of 2023, Cambrian will be offering a new program, Emergency Services Communication.

This intensive one-year certificate program will feature fully online classes plus a 120-hour placement in the field. It makes the program easily accessible for people looking for a new career or those already working in a similar industry who want to increase their skill set.

Cambrian’s Emergency Services Communication program has been developed to fill a gap in employment. Over the next seven years, it is estimated that job growth in this career, across Northern Ontario, will hover around 14 per cent.

“This new Emergency Services Communication program is a direct result of feedback from industry itself,” explains Janice Clarke, Cambrian College’s Dean of School of Justice, Community Services and General Studies. “All the emergency services providers we have spoken to have told us they need more dispatchers. These jobs are in demand and employers are waiting to hire qualified, trained and tested graduates.”

Students enrolled in the Emergency Services Communication program will cover such topics as Public Safety Telecommunicator, Crisis Intervention, Emergency Management, Victims of Crime, and Interpersonal and Group Dynamics.

Graduates who achieve a grade of 80% or higher on their APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator course will receive a certificate from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

The Emergency Services Communication program is not just for dispatchers working in emergency services. It is also very beneficial for people working in dispatch communications in other industries such as transportation, heavy industry, and even crisis intervention.

“These skills are so valuable for people working in dispatch across many different sectors,” adds Janice Clarke. “Imagine a dispatcher in a trades or resources industry who is on the line with employees who are working alone or in remote locations, and there is an emergency situation. Having the skills to not only communicate but manage the situation calmly is a huge advantage and could be life-saving. Picture someone working on a crisis intervention line. The specialized training this course offers could help them better serve their clients as well. So this program has the skills and delivery model that make it quite beneficial for people looking for a new career or people already working in the field as a dispatcher, regardless of the industry.”

For more information about Cambrian’s new Emergency Services Communication program, visit www.cambriancollege.ca/programs/emergency-services-communication.