| Recipient: | Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) |
|---|---|
| Project: | Creating Return to Work Opportunities for Disabled Veterans |
| Province: | British Columbia |
| Period: | Fiscal year 2018-2019 |
| Funding: | $197,750 |
Overview:
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is a non-profit, statutory, degree-granting, special-purpose University offering, among other things, education in occupational health and safety, disability management and rehabilitation, and other related subjects. PCU-WHS strives to create return to work opportunities for Veterans with disabilities.
Project Goals:
The key objectives for this initiative were to provide Veterans with disabilities with sustained, long-term employment opportunities in an area where they can:
- Successfully apply some of their previous experiences;
- Meet current labour market demand for individuals with Return to Work/Disability Management competencies; and
- Contribute to overall political and societal goals in increasing the employment of persons with disabilities.
Project Activities:
- Education and training (formalized education with an internship element) to provide a cohort of 25 medically discharged Veterans with the necessary skills and knowledge to support more effective Return to Work (RTW) outcomes within the federal civil service as an employer.
- The skill set could be applied for employment within Veterans Affairs Canada, the federal public service and related agencies, or meet existing demand for Return to Work/Disability Management practitioners in both the private and public sectors in Canada.
- Current potential internship opportunities exist within a range of organizations across Canada that have well established Return To Work/Disability Management programs and supported through significant numbers of Certified Disability Management Professionals (CDMP), recognized as global best practice professional competency standards in the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Best Practice Guidelines on RTW and appropriate policy and program standards.
- Participants in this program are able to draw on mentors and peer counselling support through the global network of CDMP working across all sectors, and including an international network involving 28 countries to date and just under 700 active CDMP currently in Canada.
- The CDMP professional licensing framework operates under the auspices of National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), the University's sponsoring agency.
Project Results:
Overall, 18 individuals enrolled in the program. Of the seven individuals who completed the program in June 2020, all are working in the field in some capacity. Of the five individuals who finished in 2021, most have secured positions working in the field. Six individuals did not complete the program.