The one year program gives PhD students the chance to work hands on in a clinical setting. (www.ihcproviders.com)

The Nova Scotia government has changed direction and decided to continue funding the psychology intern program for next year.

The Department of Health and Wellness announced Tuesday that the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK will fund the program this year. The province will fund the program next year.

The one year program gives PhD students the chance to work in a clinical setting.

'The program was never cut'
- Leo Glavine

News earlier this month the program had been cut was disappointing to Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia. The group feared many students would leave the province to finish their degrees and not return at a time when Nova Scotia has a need for psychologists.

In the release, Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine said, "contrary to media reports, the program was never cut and it will continue. This has always been our intention."

Province to provide $223,000

Speaking to CBC, Glavine said some of the grants for the program were cut or eliminated, but the program itself was never cut.

"There was really nowhere where we indicated that this program would be cut," he said.

"That's why you heard very quickly that the IWK and the Nova Scotia Health Authority would in fact, be making sure this program is funded through (2015-2016)."                                      

Glavine says there was some confusion about how the funding would be handled in the future.

"In many ways it's part of that realignment whereby operational decisions are with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and that's really where some of that confusion did take place," he said.

The Department of Health and Wellness will provide $223,000 to hire eight interns, six at the Nova Scotia Health Authority and two at the IWK.

Long-term funding for the program will be discussed during the next budget talks.

"This fall we will review this program, but it is, from my perspective, to make sure it is on solid grounds," Glavine said.

"We look very favourably towards having this program in our province for the future."