KUCHING: Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX) Dalat has been announced as the first training centre in Sarawak to offer the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 course in the field of elderly care and palliative care.

Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the training programme will produce highly skilled professional caregivers who are capable of providing quality services in the care of the elderly and palliative patients.

“We would like to thank the Senate members who agreed to offer this course at CENTEXS Dalat, the only one in the state.

“This course is free, thanks to the Sarawak Government,” she said when speaking at the closing ceremony of the Sarawak International Conference on Ageing (SICA) 2025 at a hotel here on Wednesday.

Dato Sri Fatimah also announced that the first intake of trainees would begin soon, reflecting the state government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the elderly care ecosystem in Sarawak is implemented systematically, trained and competitive.

“Alhamdulillah, we have planned this and by November 29 it will be a reality.

“On ​​that date, we will receive the first batch who will be fully trained in elderly care and palliative care,” she added.

The Senior Caregiver Training Certificate is one of the courses offered for six months with SKM Level 3.

In addition, CENTEXS Dalat will also offer an additional six months of senior care course plus two months of palliative care course, making a total of eight months with SKM Level 3.

This move marks a key initiative by the state government in providing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the growing senior care sector in Sarawak. -UKASnews

Reporter: Betrice Britney Dee
Translator: Nerissa Sia
Photographer: Shahril Haqim