Since 2000/2001 the Health Careers Initiative was designed and specifically to encourage and support Aboriginal participation in educational opportunities leading to careers in the health field.
The main goals are to:
• Establish partnerships with First Nations, private and public sector organizations to increase resources available to support employment, training and other programs resulting in professionally trained Aboriginal health care workers
• Encourage and support First Nations individuals to enter and complete health careers training and education programs by providing Bursary and Scholarships
• Identify mechanisms to improve program and service delivery to the First Nations communities through a coordinated approach
• Develop linkages with First Nations leadership and Provincial governments as well as agencies in the private sector
• And provide advice and expertise on planning, implementation, evaluation, issue, policy, standards, guidelines, etc.
These goals are achieved through three different programs: Community Based Initiative, Bursary & Scholarship Initiative and the School Age Math & Science Award Program.
The purpose of the Bursary & Scholarship Initiatives is to encourage Aboriginal students pursuing educational opportunities leading to careers in health professions.
Bursary Initiative The dealine has passed for this years applications.
Purpose: To assist students of Aboriginal ancestry who wish to pursue educational opportunities leading to careers in the health professions. The Health Careers Initiative is committed to supporting as many students as possible; therefore allocations will be up to a maximum of $3,500.00 for students registered in a Health Career Program in British Columbia.
To download the Bursary application form Bursary application | pdf download |
Scholarship Initiative The dealine has passed for this years applications.
Purpose: To encourage and support students of Aboriginal ancestry who wish to pursue educational opportunities leading to careers in the health professions. To promote equity in distribution, every effort will be made to ensure the regional/geographic location of applicants is considered. The Health Careers Initiative is committed to supporting as many students as possible; therefore allocations will be up to a maximum of $2,000.00 for students registered in a Health Career Program in British Columbia.
To download the Scholarship application form Scholarship application | pdf download |
The Community Based Initiative is to encourage and support Aboriginal participation in training and education programs leading to employment as health professionals with two components: Capacity Building and Career Related Projects. The dealine has passed for this years applications.
The BCTC Math and Science Program promotes Math and Science to students in Grades 4 to 12 as these courses have been consistently been challenging within the school system for Aboriginal Students.
The dealine has passed for this years applications.
The Health Careers Manager manages the above programs in addition to travelling to communities and schools to promote Health Careers. The Health Careers Manager participates on the National Health Careers Committee, Aboriginal Health Human Resources Committee, BC Academic Health Council and has established a partnership with the First Nations Education Steering Committee.