The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is very pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Costen, Associate Deputy Minister of Health, has been appointed the Deputy Minister University Champion for PCU-WHS. Mr. Costen began his public service career in 2003 and has held senior roles across the federal government including at Health Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
To read the full article, please click on the link to the newsletter below:
PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 10 Issue 38 May 2024 Appointment of Eric Costen Dep.Min.Univ.Champion
Application Deadline: June 30, 2024
This is a critical gateway to a highly desirable and rewarding professional career opportunity in the rapidly expanding field of Return to Work and Disability Management not only in BC, but across Canada and internationally.
Candidates must:
● Have permanent resident (landed immigrant) or Canadian citizenship status and be permanent residents of British Columbia;
● Meet the admission criteria of PCU-WHS, and must qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program (i.e., the 2+2 program). To qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3, applicants must:
OR
● Be in a position to register for full-time (10 courses per year) or part-time (5 courses per year) study in the 2+2 BDM program beginning in September 2024 and to complete the degree within a 2-year period for full-time study or 4-year period for part-time study. The Scholarship will apply to both years of the 2+2 program for full-time study, but only the first 3 years of the 2+2 BDM program for part-time study.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.
WDA Scholarship Information Booklet
WDA-Grant-Scholarship-Application-Form-2024
This Scholarship is designed to significantly increase the availability of disability management professionals and practitioners for British Columbia employers across all public and private sector organizations and be a major long-term strategic and sustainable workplace approach to “Building a Culture of Accommodation”. This strategy mirrors the successful outcomes seen in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world where greater professionalization in the Return to Work and Disability Management field is significantly improving socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers, and society at large.
Preferred domains of previous study include human resources, occupational health and safety, healthcare, business, and social work.
Many of the traditional HR functions involve aspects of disability management. HR practitioners may be directly or indirectly involved in return to work planning. This eight-course certificate program is designed for HR practitioners with disability management responsibilities and focuses on knowledge and skills that they use when workers incur disabilities. For further details, please click on the following link to the PCU-WHS website: DM from a HR Perspective
Theme: Disability Management in our Post Pandemic world
About the Conference: The goal of the IFDM conference is to build knowledge for the Disability Management professions in the CDMP and CRTWC Global community.
Date: September 15-17, 2024, Location: Vancouver
Call for Abstracts: We invite researchers, scholars, policy and program practitioners and enthusiasts to submit abstracts for presentation at the IFDM 24 Conference. The conference aims to bring together professionals from diverse fields to share insights, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration.
Submission themes:The four themes around which workshops and plenary sessions will be developed are:
Details of the themes can be found here submission themes
Submission Guidelines:
Key Dates:
How to Submit:
Benefits of Participation:
Registration Information:
Details on conference registration, including fees and payment instructions, will be posted to the Conference Website early in the new year.
Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities:
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference? Email info@ifdm2024.ca for details.
Five graduates, who are located in the BC lower mainland area, who were part of the 2023 graduating classes attended in person, while graduates in Ontario and Alberta attended virtually, in the hybrid Convocation Ceremony that took place in Vancouver on November 28, 2023.
The Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor of PCU-WHS, addressed the graduates identifying the evolving field of Disability Management and the need and importance of this field of practice. The Keynote speaker for the event was the Hon. Harry Bains, BC’s Minister of Labour, with additional speakers and congratulatory messages from: Josie Osborne, MLA Mid Island-Pacific Rim; Gord Johns, MP, Courtenay-Alberni; Dr. Tyler Amell, Registrar, Dr. Susan Patrick, Senior Academic Lead, and Dr. Kara Arnold, Chief Academic Officer of PCU-WHS; Shanna Ramm, the first graduate of the BDM program in 2020; and the founding co-chairs of NIDMAR, Peter Lawrie and Brian Payne, who identified the goals of return to work in the “early days” and challenged the new graduates to keep moving the field of practice forward. President of PCU-WHS, Wolfgang Zimmermann, was the MC for the event. Sarah Cosco, the Valedictorian, provided an emotional and inspiring perspective to having completed the program and the work they are all now involved in.
To view the recording of the Convocation Ceremony, please click on the following link:
https://youtu.be/zlErW2301MY?si=LgoyT1Ng9uqCFJbk
To view the Valedictorian address, please click on the following link:
Sarah Cosco’s address
As April 28 approaches, workplaces across the nation prepare to observe the National Day of Mourning, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the memory of workers who have tragically lost their lives, sustained injuries, or fallen ill due to workplace hazards.
Year after year, Canada witnesses far too many workplace accidents, each one a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety in all aspects of our work environments. According to the latest data from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), in 2022 alone, there were 993 reported workplace fatalities, with 33 of those being young workers aged 15-24. Additionally, there were 348,747 accepted claims for lost time due to work-related injuries or diseases. These numbers underscore the urgent need for collective action to prevent further tragedies.
CCOHS urges all workplaces to take this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of every worker. By fostering a culture of safety and vigilance, we can strive towards the goal of zero workplace incidents.
More information about the National Day of Mourning including resources to help spread awareness in the workplace is available on the CCOHS website: https://www.ccohs.ca/events/mourning
The Government of British Columbia has recently enacted amendments to the workers’ compensation legislation aimed at providing greater clarity and reinforcement of the obligations placed upon organizations in facilitating return to work for employees who have sustained mental or physical injuries or illnesses resulting from workplace activities. The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), which was ratified in November 2022, is slated to come into effect on January 1, 2024. This legislation introduces two new obligations for both workers and employers: the duty to collaborate and the duty to sustain the employment of an injured worker.
For further details, please click on the following link to download details regarding the course:DMCS-450-BC-Employer-RTW-Obligations-Under-Bill-41-3-1
Or, please go to the following webpage: DMCS 450
Images taken by Trevor Jensen, Staggering Media.
Following the recent BC Government’s New Release from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction entitled “People with injuries, disabilities supported getting back to work”, NIDMAR has issued a News Release providing additional details with regard to this latest initiative “Reducing Poverty through Early Intervention and Occupational Rehabilitation Initiative.”
Please click on the following link to download the NIDMAR News Release: Optimizing Return to Work through Successful Early Intervention
Completion of education through PCU-WHS is a gateway to becoming eligible to obtain the CDMP professional designation – the internationally accepted Gold Standard for those working in the field of Disability Management and Return to Work. This short 10-minute video offers a snapshot of the value proposition associated with obtaining the coveted CDMP designation. Link to video.
Speaking at the Day of Mourning, a very moving ceremony held in Port Alberni, BC April 28, 2023. Hon. Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island–Pacific Rim and Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of PCU-WHS; and Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay–Alberni.
On April 28, known as the Day of Mourning, we honor people who have passed away, been sick or injured at work, or endured a tragedy at work. In Canada, 1,081 workplace fatalities were recorded by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) in 2021. Among these deaths, 18 were young workers aged between 15 to 24. In addition, 277,217 claims for lost time due to work-related injuries or illnesses were accepted by the AWCBC, including 34,548 claims from workers aged 15-24. However, these figures do not account for all cases, and it is expected that the actual number of affected workers is higher.
The Scholarship opportunity to enroll in the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree program is offered through the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS). This is a critical gateway to a highly desirable and rewarding professional career opportunity in the rapidly expanding field of Return to Work and Disability Management not only in BC, but across Canada and internationally. Please see the website at: https://www.pcu-whs.ca/programs/bdm/
Applicants for the Scholarship in the BDM program must be BC residents who have completed a 2-year diploma or other relevant educational prerequisites, which provide 60 credits (or equivalent) in a range of disciplines but preferably human resources, business, occupational health and safety, nursing or social work from a recognized post-secondary educational institution. A combination of professional experience and career education may also be considered under the Flexible Admission policy on a case-by-case basis. Applicants under Flexible Admission should have a minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience in a related field.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.
This limited Scholarship opportunity provides the following options:
or
commencing with the Fall trimester of 2023.
This Scholarship is designed to significantly increase the availability of disability management professionals and practitioners for British Columbia employers across all public and private sector organizations and be a major long-term strategic and sustainable workplace approach to “Building a Culture of Accommodation”. This strategy mirrors the successful outcomes seen in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world where greater professionalization in the Return to Work and Disability Management field is significantly improving socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers and society at large.
Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC).
To download the WDA Scholarship Information Booklet, please click on the following link: WDA Information Booklet 2023
To download an Application Form in order to apply for a Scholarship, please click the following link: WDA-Grant-Scholarship-Application-Form 2023
OR
Eligible individuals may apply for a Scholarship for either full- or part-time study in the 2+2 Bachelor in Disability Management (BDM) program.
The WDA Grant Scholarship will provide
The WDA Grant Scholarship is open to candidates with landed immigrant or Canadian citizenship status who are permanent residents of British Columbia.
Successful candidates must:
In addition, successful candidates must qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 of the BDM program (i.e., the 2+2 program). Your Scholarship would then apply to your 2+2 program (2 years for full-time study or the first 3 years only for full-time study). To qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3, applicants must:
OR
Preferred domains of previous study include:
The WDA Grant Scholarship will apply to:
OR
PCU-WHS is located in Port Alberni, British Columbia, but all BDM courses are offered exclusively online. Residents of British Columbia can study from their city or town of residence.
All courses at PCU-WHS are offered online by highly qualified faculty with a depth of multidisciplinary experience.
Students require a computer, an Internet connection (high-speed internet is recommended), and internet browser software to participate in the courses. Students should have a computer with a sound card and speakers to listen to course videos and audio, plus a microphone to participate in synchronous sessions. All courses require a word processing application such as Microsoft Word. Individual courses may have additional software requirements. Technical assistance is available for all courses.
The online platform provides you with:
Students will have 24-hour access to most course resources, activities, and materials. The few synchronous activities (Zoom sessions, student presentations) will be scheduled in the Pacific time zone.
Full-time study in the 2+2 BDM program: For students who are not employed full-time:
Part-time study in the 2+2 BDM program: For students who are employed full-time:
3The WDA Scholarship can only be applied to the first 3 years of part-time study. Applicants will be responsible for covering the full tuition and all other expenses for the final 1 year of their program.
All expressions of interest and applications must be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at PCU-WHS (see contact information below).
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024
To apply, submit a WDA Grant Scholarship application package which includes:
The WDA Scholarship can only be applied to the first 3 years of the 4-year part-time program. Applicants will be responsible for covering the full tuition and all other expenses of the final 1 year of the part-time program.
Applications packages must be addressed to the Office of the Registrar at PCU-WHS, and can be sent by email, Canada Post, or courier to:
WDA Grant Scholarship
Office of the Registrar
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
4755 Cherry Creek Road
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 0A7
education@pcu-whs.ca
Application packages must be received in their entirety no later than May 31, 2024.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.
Successful applicants will be notified by June 30, 2024.
Successful applicants must notify PCU-WHS that they have accepted the Scholarship by July 12, 2024. If the Scholarship is declined, it will be awarded to an individual on the waiting list, who will be notified of their success by July 19, 2024. Applicants who fail to respond to an offer of scholarship by the specified deadline will be considered to have declined the scholarship.
The WDA Grant Scholarship is designed to:
Disability Management interventions are designed to:
Early intervention is at the core of an effective Disability Management approach.
A key success factor in effective Disability Management programs is a consensus-based process based on collaboration between management and worker representatives, often enshrined in a collective agreement, and overseen by a joint management-labour committee.
Disability Management Professionals work internally within their own organizations or externally as providers to:
Disability Management Professionals work collaboratively with management, unions or employee organizations, insurance providers, government agencies, health care providers, and others.
Disability Management Professionals work as human resource professionals, workplace health specialists, case managers, return to work coordinators, or in a variety of related areas.
Prospective places of employment for Disability Management Professionals include:
There is an opportunity for experienced professionals to establish their own businesses offering disability management contract services to local employers.
once they have met all of the following eligibility criteria:
In a survey by the Canadian HR Reporter, it was found that 90 percent of business leaders say the value of professional designations is increasing.
For information regarding the WDA Grant Scholarship that is not addressed in the FAQs, please contact:
Due to high number of inquiries, there may be delays in receiving a response. We prioritize those who have submitted an application with associated application fees.
Funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement.
Annual observance of this day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The theme for the 2022 global observance is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”, and covers three topics:
– Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment
– Innovation for disability inclusive developing in reducing inequality
– Innovation for disability inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case
We are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Kara Arnold, PhD, as PCU-WHS’s Chief Academic Officer. In this consulting role, Kara will provide invaluable support to educational delivery and development aspects, including the academic and continuing education components of PCU-WHS.
This special initiative for Canadian Residents is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program and provides a limited number of free Continuing Education courses in Disability Management and Return to Work. For further details on this Continuing Education opportunity, please visit: Support for Canadian Residents for DM / RTW Continuing Education
On October 19, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) welcomed its 2022 class of graduates, 10 new recipients who have earned a Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree.
PCU-WHS― a leading edge University in education and research for excellence in the field of disability management and return to work ― held an online convocation ceremony with faculty, government officials, and graduates from various time zones, ranging from North America to Europe, Africa and Australia.
PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 36 October 2022 BDM Degree Graduates Honoured
Welcoming our Member of Parliament, Gord Johns.
With significant national attention focused on the ongoing developments regarding a Canada Disability Benefit and the recently released Canada Disability Inclusion Action Plan, MP Gord Johns wanted to learn more about current challenges facing persons with disabilities and potential positive opportunities.
Following the weekend Global News article (see link below), discussions centered on the fact that highly inequitable employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are a major contributor. We need to break the vicious disability – poverty – unemployment cycle.
More than 80% of mental and physical health impairments occur during a person’s working life, so maintaining workplace attachment through effective Disability Management programs is key towards “Building a Culture of Accommodation,” reducing disability stigma, and is required to build a Disability Inclusion society.
https://globalnews.ca/news/9176485/poverty-canadians-disabilities-medically-assisted-death/
The Accessible Canada Act, introduced in 2018 and which received Royal Assent and came into force in July 2019, is “An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada.”
The definition of “Barrier” in the Act “means anything – including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice – that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.”
The National Executive Steering Committee for the special initiative that NIDMAR is currently undertaking requested a Fact Sheet that sets out the current situation in Canada today.
Funding for the initiative is provided under the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, and covers support through education, professionalization, and program assessments – all related to Disability Management and Return to Work.