Caremalta Academy held another event which saw 118 students receive certificates after having completed courses leading to City & Guilds qualifications in healthcare. Students came from 16 nations.

Welcoming students in their own language, Charlo Bonnici, director of HR and communications and the academy’s principal, said that in the forthcoming academic year the academy, in conjunction with Mcast, would be starting two new courses leading to a level 4 advanced certificate in healthcare and a level 3 award in disability studies respectively.

Later on during the year, the academy will also be starting another course leading to a certificate in dementia care. Mr Bonnici added that the academy would also hold three other courses leading to the City & Guilds diploma in healthcare and a specialised diploma in healthcare. Caremalta CEO Natalie Briffa Farrugia said that since starting courses in 2010 more than 640 students qualified from the academy and most worked with Caremalta, which employs more than 1,000 people and cares for around 1,300 elderly residents.

Paul Chimezie from Nigeria receiving a certificate from Natalie Briffa Farrugia. Top: the group who were awarded certificates.

Mrs Briffa Farrugia also said that the introduction of a course leading to a qualification in disability studies marked the entry of the Vassallo Group into the disability sector. The group will be opening a new respite home in Mosta, Casa Apap Bologna, in the coming weeks.

On this occasion Mrs Briffa Farrugia officially launched the new Caremalta website www.caremalta.com, developed by HIVE Ltd. The website includes a section dedicated to the academy, through which those interested in joining one of the courses may apply.