Author: Jennie Ridler

Scholarship Opportunities for BC Residents

Application Deadline: June 15, 2023.

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:

  • students can complete the BDM program in a two-year time frame as a full-time student (Scholarship applied to both years),

or

  • participants can complete the BDM program in a four-year part-time format (Scholarship applied to first 2 years only)

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

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What is the WDA Grant Scholarship?

  • The Scholarship program is made possible by funding to the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement (WDA).
  • Candidates may apply for a Scholarship towards either full- or part-time study in the 2+2 Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS).
  • Each successful candidate will be entitled to $6,500 annually for each of two years of full-time study, or $3,250 annually for the first 3 years only of four years of part-time study, applied towards tuition fees.
  • Scholarship funds will cover most (but NOT all) of the annual course tuition per year, and can only be applied to tuition for the specialized courses required to complete the 2+2 BDM program.
  • Candidates must:
    • have completed at least 60 transferable academic credits from a recognized post-secondary institution (or equivalent; more information below).

OR

  • qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 (i.e., 2+2 BDM program) by Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) / Flexible Admission.
  • The Scholarship program duration is 2 years for full-time study, or the first 3 years only of part-time study, in the 2+2 BDM program. Recipients for full-time study are expected to graduate within this 2-year time frame; those for part-time study will be responsible for the full tuition for the final year of the program, and are expected to graduate at the completion of the 4th
  • The percentage to which the annual Scholarship will cover actual tuition costs will be contingent on the number of transfer credits with which prospective students enter the degree program, and any additional courses that may be required.
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What does the WDA Grant Scholarship Provide?

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

  • $6,500 annually for each of 2 years of full-time study in the 2+2 BDM program, to cover most of the course tuition for the specialized courses required to complete the BDM degree. Applicants will be responsible for covering the balance of the tuition: approximately $1,120 per academic year for a student entering with 60 credits and with suitable research coursework. Textbooks, which are required by several courses, are not covered by the Scholarship.
  • $3,250 annually for the first 3 years only of part-time study in the 2+2 BDM program, to cover most of the course tuition for the first 3 years of specialized courses required to complete the BDM degree. Applicants will be responsible for covering the balance of the tuition for the first 3 years: approximately $560 per academic year for a student entering with 60 credits and with suitable research coursework. Textbooks, which are required by several courses, are not covered by the scholarship. Applicants will be responsible for covering the full tuition and all other expenses for completion of the program (the final 1 year of part-time study).
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Who is eligible?

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:

  • Meet the admission criteria of PCU-WHS.

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:

  • Have graduated with an associate degree, 2-year diploma, or other relevant educational prerequisite which provides 60 transferable academic credits (or equivalent) in a range of disciplines (preferred domains listed below).
    • Current students must be attending a BC post-secondary institution.
    • Students converting from an existing career path may have graduated from any university or college.
    • Candidates with an average post-secondary GPA of 3.0 or higher will be preferred.

OR

  • Be eligible for Admission Directly into Year 3 (i.e., the 2+2 program) on the basis of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). A combination of professional experience and career education will be assessed under 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.

Preferred domains of previous study include:

  • Human Resources
  • Occupational Health Safety
  • Healthcare
  • Business
  • Social Work
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What additional costs will I need to pay?

  • An application fee of $100 is required.
  • The WDA Grant Scholarship will cover most of the tuition required to complete the 2+2 BDM program in 2 years of full-time study, or most of the tuition of the first 3 years only to complete the 2+2 BDM program in 4 years of part-time study. Students are responsible for covering the balance of tuition: approximately $1,120 per academic year for full-time study; or approximately $560 per academic year for the first 3 years of part-time study, and approximately $3,810 for the final 1 year of part-time study (as of December 2021).
  • The costs of elective or additional courses, if required, are not covered by the Scholarship.
  • There will be other incidental costs, including costs of textbooks and other materials, which are not covered by the Scholarship.
  • The cost of a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) review for Flexible Admission ($400) is not covered by the Scholarship.
  • The cost of a PLAR request for any specialized BDM course is not covered by the Scholarship.
  • Fees for any course not completed within the Scholarship period will be the responsibility of the student.
  • The percentage of actual tuition costs that the annual Scholarship will cover will be contingent on the number of transfer credits with which prospective students enter the degree program.
  • Students who do not have suitable research coursework or experience may be required to take a 300-level research course prior to entering their final year of the program. This course (WHDM 306) is not covered by the Scholarship.
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What is the period of study?

The WDA Grant Scholarship will apply to:

  • 2 years of full-time study in the 2+2 BDM program, commencing with the Fall 2024 trimester and terminating with the Spring 2026 trimester.

OR

  • the first 3 years only of part-time study in the 2+2 BDM program, commencing with the Fall 2024 trimester and terminating with the Spring 2027 trimester. You can anticipate completion of the part-time program 1 year later (Spring 2028 trimester) without Scholarship funding.
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What commitments do I need to make?

  • Successful candidates are required to attend the PCU-WHS online 2+2 BDM program beginning in September 2024.
  • You are also required to attend an online orientation to the program in advance of the first academic term.
  • You must maintain an academic standing of 3.0 (B) or higher each trimester throughout your studies. If you fail to achieve this, you will be given the following trimester to restore your standing.
  • You must be in a position to register in full- or part-time study in the 2+2 Bachelor of Disability Management (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.
  • To qualify for admission to the full-time WDA Grant Scholarship program, you must not be working full-time.
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How will I access courses at PCU-WHS?

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:

  • 24-hour access to course resources and materials.
  • More opportunities to directly communicate with faculty.
  • Constructive interaction with other students.
  • Greater flexibility and convenience in managing your time. (Courses are not self-paced, however; timelines for course work are provided.)
  • An environment to participate at a time and place best suited to your needs.
  • Additional time to reflect before responding to discussions and other activities.
  • An environment where the independent learner flourishes.

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.

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What is the difference between the part-time and the full-time 2+2 BDM program?

Full-time study in the 2+2 BDM program: For students who are not employed full-time:

  • Completion of the BDM program in 2 years
  • Completion of a minimum of ten (10) 3-credit courses per year (based on admission with 60 credits):
    • Typically: 4 courses in the Fall trimester, 3 courses in the Winter trimester, 3 courses in the Spring trimester.
  • The courses for the 2+2 BDM program are 12-week courses, with an anticipated time commitment of 8-9 hours per week per course, including approximately 4 hours on the required readings and 4 hours on either a discussion exercise or assignment. Expect to be enrolled in 3-4 courses per trimester.

Part-time study in the 2+2 BDM program: For students who are employed full-time:

  • Completion of the BDM program in 4 years3
  • Completion of a minimum of five (5) 3-credit courses per year (based on admission with 60 credits):
    • Typically: 2 courses in the Fall trimester, 1-2 courses in the Winter trimester, 1-2 courses in the Spring trimester.
  • The courses for the 2+2 BDM program are 12-week courses, with an anticipated time commitment of 8-9 hours per week per course, including approximately 4 hours on the required readings and 4 hours on either a discussion exercise or assignment. Expect to be enrolled in 1-2 courses per trimester.

 

2+2 BDM Program
Full-Time study Part-Time study
Time to completion of program 2 years 4 years3
Minimum number of courses per year 10 5
Duration of each course 12 weeks 12 weeks
Number of courses taken at one time 3 or 4, depending on trimester 1 or 2, depending on trimester
Time commitment per week per course 8 hours 8 hours

 

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.

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How do I apply?

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:

  • Completed WDA Grant Scholarship 2023 Application Form
  • An application fee of $100
  • Reflective essay
  • Official transcripts issued from previous post-secondary institutions
  • Letters of Attestation (2) for previous work experience

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

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What is the deadline to apply?

Application packages must be received in their entirety no later than May 31, 2024.

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.

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When will I know if I have been selected to receive the WDA Grant Scholarship?

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.

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Why is the WDA Grant Scholarship important?

The WDA Grant Scholarship is designed to:

  • Significantly increase availability of Disability Management Professionals for BC employers.
  • Build enhanced recognition of the importance of effective Return to Work programs and the priority of maintaining employment for disabled workers.
  • Reduce the unacceptable poverty rate of people with disabilities.
  • Improve socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers, and society at large through greater professionalization of those working in the Return to Work / Disability Management field.
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How can Disability Management make a difference?

  • Approximately 80 percent of disabling conditions occur during an individual’s working life.
  • Disability benefit recipients have less than a one percent chance of exiting the social security benefit system to enter into employment.
  • This results in dependency and poverty for individuals with disabilities, unsustainable social protection costs, and increasing numbers of disability benefit recipients.
  • About 25 percent of all Canadians living in poverty today ─ an estimated 1.4 million individuals ─ are people with disabilities.
  • Effective Disability Management programs can make a crucial contribution to reducing poverty in Canada by promoting workplace health, preventing disabilities, and avoiding loss of employment due to a disabling condition.

Disability Management interventions are designed to:

  • Reduce the likelihood that workers will acquire an impairment that could place their jobs at risk.
  • Engage with workers with disabilities, before they have lost their attachment to their employer, to enhance the likelihood they will retain and return to their jobs.
  • Reduce the number of workers exiting the active labour market and entering into the disability benefits system.

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.

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What does a Disability Management Professional do?

Disability Management Professionals work internally within their own organizations or externally as providers to:

  • Develop positive workplace health and job retention policies.
  • Promote a positive and proactive workplace health and return to work organizational culture.
  • Promote and protect the health and productivity of the workforce.
  • Support workers with health conditions to remain at work.
  • Assist workers absent on health grounds to safely return to the workplace.

Disability Management Professionals work collaboratively with management, unions or employee organizations, insurance providers, government agencies, health care providers, and others.

 

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Where do Disability Management Professionals work?

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:

  • Industrial work sites
  • Corporate offices
  • Insurance companies
  • Service providers
  • Human resources departments
  • Workers’ compensation organizations

There is an opportunity for experienced professionals to establish their own businesses offering disability management contract services to local employers.

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How will the Scholarship help me to progress my career?

  • Graduates of the BDM Program may go on to further studies and are recognized under the eligibility qualifications to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of:
    • Certified Disability Management Professional – CDMP
    • Certified Return to Work Coordinator – CRTWC

once they have met all of the following eligibility criteria:

    • Successful completion of the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) degree
    • Completed a minimum of 1 year performing the roles and responsibilities (during the last 5 years) with at least 50% or more of the time in the delivery of DM services, supervised by a qualified DM supervisor or management representative responsible for DM.
  • The BDM is accepted by the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University as a qualifying program for consideration of acceptance to its:
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Management
  • Master of Health Administration

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.

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For information regarding the WDA Grant Scholarship that is not addressed in the FAQs, please contact:

Abdifatah Abdi, MEd
Manager of Admissions and Student Services
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
4755 Cherry Creek Road
Port Alberni, BC
Canada  V9Y 0A7
Phone: 778-421-0824, ext. 209
Email: education@pcu-whs.ca

 

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.

Introducing New Staff at PCU-WHS

PCU-WHS is pleased to announce the appointment of two new staff members: Susan Patrick, PhD, as Director of Academic Program Development and Delivery; and Khusbuben Thakor (KD), MBA, MGM, as Associate Director of Admissions, Student Services and Alumni Relations.

With the roll-out of the grant from the British Columbia government to NIDMAR, this has translated into newly available educational opportunities for both scholarships and continuing education in Disability Management to BC residents and workplaces.

Below please find the links to bulletins announcing the appointments of Susan and KD as both look forward to welcoming these new opportunities for new students in the rapidly expanding field of Disability Management, supported in part through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and federal and provincial Accessibility Legislation in Canada.

PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 8 Issue 31 May 2021 Announcement re Appointment of Susan Patrick

PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 8 Issue 32 May 2021 Announcement re Appointment of Khusbuben Thakor

 

BC Government introduces new accessibility legislation and awards grant to support culture of accommodation in the workplace

New accessibility legislation will set British Columbia on the path to a more accessible and inclusive province for people with disabilities and their support networks.

If passed, the accessible British Columbia act will allow government to establish accessibility standards aimed at identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion. Standards will be developed in a range of areas such as employment, the delivery of services and the built environment.

“We’re committed to improving the lives of people living with disabilities, and today’s introduction of the accessible British Columbia act marks an important step in building an accessible province that works for all of us,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “To be a truly inclusive province, we must integrate accessibility into all aspects of our lives. This legislation will support the development of new accessibility standards, which will help ensure all British Columbians can participate more fully in their communities.”

To view the News Release made by the BC Government about the proposed accessible British Columbia act, please click on the following link: More Information

In a separate release, the Province announced that it is providing NIDMAR a $6 million one-time grant to administer a RTW and DM education and program support project over the next four years.

The project includes three strategies to support BC employers to accommodate injured workers to return to work as well as increase the number of people with disabilities in the provincial workforce through:
•    Disabilty management program assessments and improvements
•    Educational development
•    Professionalization

Dan Coulter, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility said, “Every worker has the right to return home safely from work. As someone who has endured a serious workplace injury myself, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to return to the workplace. This funding will help more people successfully transition back into the workforce.”

Wolfgang Zimmermann, Executive Director of NIDMAR said, “We very much appreciate the support of the Province to enable us to provide employers in BC with education, professional certification and implement a Return to Work/Disability Management program so they can assist workers who acquire a mental or physical health impairment to maintain attachment to their workforce. Over 80% of impairments occur during a person’s work life, and spending a year on disability support, less than 1% will work again. Workplace efforts in early intervention and return to work play a key role in successful socio-economic outcomes for the injured/disabled worker.”

Lance Blanco, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development Hardwoods Distribution Inc. said, “This is a tremendous opportunity. Employers in collaboration with their employees, can effect meaningful change through personal leadership and by introducing organizational policies and practices that focus on retaining valuable workers they might otherwise lose to the onset of a mental or physical health impairment. Everyone benefits when we build a culture of accommodation that recognizes the important contributions we can all make.”

Sussanne Skidmore, Secretary Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour said, “We are encouraged by this practical investment that will help injured workers to return to work. While there is much work to do to improve accessibility and supports for injured workers, employers will now have access to training and skills development to ensure they properly support their workers.”

The Honourable Minister of Labour, Harry Bains said, “Ensuring that workers who become injured or disabled have the supports they need to be able to return to work is vital to a healthy and just workforce. This grant will go a long way to improve and expand BC’s disability management and return-to-work resources and provide workers and employers with more of the supports they need.”

For further details regarding this grant, please contact NIDMAR by email at: nidmar@nidmar.ca

To be notified of future education opportunities from PCU-WHS please register at: info@pcu-whs.ca

To view the News Release made by the BC Government Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, please click on the following link: More Information

National Day of Mourning – April 28, 2021

The national Day of Mourning is observed annually on April 28 to remember those workers who have lost their lives or been affected by workplace disabilities or disease. Together, we also use this day to acknowledge and show support for the countless families and friends whose lives have been impacted by these workplace tragedies. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 2.3 million workers die annually from occupational accidents around the world, which relates to 6,000 workplace deaths per day. A further 500 million workers each year are injured in occupational accidents or are victims of work-related illnesses.

In Canada, 30 years have now passed since the official Day of Mourning was first established on April 28, 1991. Despite three decades of increased awareness, the latest statistics tell a sobering story; workplaces in Canada are not getting any safer. Data from the Association of Worker’s Compensation Boards (AWCBC) shows that the number of Canadian workplace fatalities remains consistent – with close to 1,000 workers being killed at work each year. The Day of Mourning on April 28, 2021 serves as a reminder that we must strengthen our resolve to create safer and healthier workplaces to reduce these preventable deaths in future.

As we pay our respects and honour those who were killed in their line of work, we must also consider those who have suffered illness and injury – many of whom are now facing an uncertain future plagued by ongoing health issues and employment challenges.  For every industrial fatality, we can expect about 25 permanent long-term mental or physical health impairments, with these individuals and their families often enduring years of financial hardship and accessibility barriers in addition to the burden of managing their health concerns.

Over the past year, the global pandemic has taken an extreme toll on workplace health and safety. Employers were required to quickly re-imagine their operations to try and protect their workers, but tragically, cases of COVID-19 spreading through worksites were reported across the country; with workers exposed to health risks when supporting essential goods and services and others not speaking out through fear of losing their jobs. The long-term symptoms of contracting COVID-19 continue to impact those who are reported as recovering from the virus, and this has not been the only risk associated with the pandemic; improperly adapted work environments and the extreme mental health impacts of isolation, worry and disruption have also added countless additional instances of illness and injuries to our workforce over the past year. These cases are expected to increase with the pandemic continuing to impact our lives well into the future.

Recent studies show that workers who are dealing with injury and illness, including those resulting from workplace incidents, become extremely vulnerable to losing their jobs and subsequently facing extraordinary barriers to re-entering the workplace. Persons with disabilities continue to experience a disproportionately higher than average level of poverty with data showing that both public and private employers do not consistently hire and retain workers who acquire a mental or physical health impairment.

We must use the Day of Mourning to remember those who tragically lost their lives, to re-commit to establishing safe and healthy work environments, and to demand proper support and workplace accommodations for the increasing number of individuals dealing with illness or injury.

Sources:

New Appointment to Board of Governors

The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is pleased to announce the appointment to its Board of Governors of Lorraine Evans, Director of Human Resources for Canada Post. Lorraine is an experienced Human Resources Director with a passion for inclusion and acceptance in the workplace. In February 2021, Lorraine was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR); however her relationship with NIDMAR began many years earlier.  Please click on the following link to review the full announcement:
PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 8 Issue 30 March 2021 New Appointment to Board of Governors

 

Academic Workplace Health Advisory Board

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across Canada and around the world has created unprecedented challenges for individuals, organizations and societies. It has disrupted professional and personal lives of many individuals, often creating economic hardship while in untold cases challenging individuals’ ability to successfully cope. COVID-19 has exacerbated what had already become a rapidly increasing wave of mental health challenges and impairments arising from a myriad number of factors including, but not limited to, dramatic expansion of the ‘gig’ economy, reorganization of workplace structures, and the need to accommodate many personal challenges such as the “sandwich generation” who are trying to adjust.

PCU-WHS, through its various education, research and professional development initiatives has tried to be at the forefront of supporting individuals and workplaces with the development of innovative strategies, policies and practices designed to facilitate more effective accommodations for individuals struggling with mental health impairments, which are often combined with physical health challenges and demanding personal circumstances.

In order to maintain a leading edge, innovation, thought-leadership and best practice agenda, the University has been most fortunate and is grateful for the committed dedication and support of many individuals across Canada and around the world who share its vision of much improved workplace health outcomes, both on the primary prevention level, but also on the return to work side following onset of a disabling mental or physical health impairment.

With this in mind, we are very pleased that the following individuals agreed to join our newly established Academic Workplace Health Advisory Board:

Prof. Dr. Lorne Sulsky, PhD – Chair
Lani deHek, RN, CDMP, Manager, Occupational Health & Safety/Disability Management, BC Nurses Union, Vancouver, BC
Evie DoCouto, MBA, PMP  – Fr. Vice-President, Return-to-Work Division, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Toronto, ON
Dr. Parminder Ghura, MD, Consulting Occupational Health Physician, Toronto, ON
Dr. Craig Gosse, MD, Chief Occupational Psychiatry, Homewood Health, Halifax, NS
Dr. Donal McAnaney, PhD, Adjunct Faculty, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Georgia Pomaki, PhD, Leader Mental Health Specialists, Wellness, Disability and Life, Manulife Financial, Vancouver, BC

Effective Workplace Responses to Mental Health Certificate Program

This eight-module Certificate Program addresses the mental health aspects of disability management and engages a holistic approach to foundational and current challenges related to evolving societal changes, the realities of a global pandemic and resultant workplace challenges.

Those whose responsibilities include disability management, return to work, human resources and health and safety are on the front lines as mental health conditions represent the greatest proportion of disability management claims. This Mental Health Certificate is centered on providing tactical learning opportunities for professionals to attain a perspective of informed “responding” versus well-intentioned “reacting”.

Module Topics:

1.    Mental Health Issues, Rehabilitation Services and Return to Work – March 15-21, 2021
2.    Mental Health Communication and Return to Work – April 12-18, 2021
3.    Mental Health Conditions and Return to Work – May 10-16, 2021
4.    Stress and Anxiety in the Workplace – June 7-13, 2021
5.    Psychological Injury: Prevention, Job Retention, and Return to Work Strategies – July 5-11, 2021
6.    Substance Recreation Use, Misuse and Addictions: A Disability Management Perspective – September 13-19, 2021
7.    Strategies to Retain Workers Experiencing Mental Health Challenges – October 18-24, 2021
8.    Certificate Capstone – November 15-28, 2021

Program Overview:

Each module runs for one week and the program schedule was designed with busy, working professionals in mind. Those wishing to complete all eight modules to achieve the full certificate can do so in just nine months.

Anyone unable to commit to the full certificate program, but seeking ongoing CEC opportunities are able to sign up for the individual modules that interest them. Each module provides 12 Continuing Education Credit hours.

Certificate Program Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the evolving impacts of mental health and mental illness on today’s workforce
  • Learn effective responses to the rising workplace mental health challenges
  • Learn practical strategies and build leadership skills related to worker mental health and wellness
  • Evolve critical thinking skills related to mental health barriers
  • Engage in self-directed learning strategies to optimize effectiveness as a workplace professional

Cost: $250 for each individual module

Additional details: https://www.pcu-whs.ca/programs/continuing-professional-education/effective-workplace-responses-to-mental-health-certificate-program/

2020 – The Year in Review

2020 was a challenging year in so many ways, so it is not surprising that many of us have been looking forward to the New Year and the fresh start that it represents. At PCU-WHS, a look back over 2020 reveals some significant milestones and highlights that were achieved despite the challenges of the pandemic, and which create the foundation for many more exciting developments as we enter 2021.
To read more on 2020 – The Year in Review, please click on the following link to review the newsletter:

Agreement Announced between CPHR New Brunswick / CRHA Nouveau-Brunswick and PCU-WHS

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is pleased to announce the signing of an Agreement with CPHR New Brunswick / CRHA Nouveau-Brunswick providing their members with the pre-approval for CPD hours of the 25 courses in the online Disability Management Practitioner Program.

The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources New Brunswick was established in 1996 to meet the needs for the growth and recognition of HR professionals in New Brunswick. CPHR New Brunswick / CRHA Nouveau-Brunswick is a bilingual association whose purpose is to promote and encourage members to develop and maintain a professional standard of knowledge and proficiency in their occupational field. The association’s mandate includes attaining recognition as a resource on employment issues, as well as promoting and gaining acceptance of the Human Resources field for the distinct body of knowledge it provides in business.

The CPHR competency framework includes “Health, Wellness and Safe Workplace” with responsibilities in these areas falling to the HR professional in the organization. The 25 courses in the online Disability Management Practitioner Program consist of topic areas that are key to successful health and wellness and return to work of an organization’s employees.

As recent surveys have indicated, the responsibilities for disability management and return to work often fall to the HR professional in an organization who has often had no specific training to assist them in this complex area of practice. By providing this opportunity, CPHR New Brunswick / CRHA Nouveau-Brunswick offers these 25 topic areas, all of which are relevant to the HR professional, at a preferred pricing registration to their members. And the focus has become even more relevant in today’s world under COVID-19 where a large percentage of employees are struggling with work/life balance while working from home and at the same time trying to cope with family members who are also working / schooling from home; or potentially, the fear of return to work in today’s environment. All of these issues land on the desk of the HR professional who is already overwhelmed.

A recent survey of the Federal Public Service, with about 260,000 members across Canada, indicated that in almost two-thirds of the cases of an onset of an individual’s mental/physical health impairment, the employee’s immediate supervisor turned to a Labour Relations or Human Resources advisor/officer as a first point of contact in order to identify accommodation support and options. This approach is very consistent with many other organizations, public or private, across Canada and internationally, where Labour Relations and/or Human Resources functions are established. Having knowledgeable, experienced and collaborative approaches embraced by Human Resources Professionals can often lead to much improved outcomes for the individuals affected by retaining valuable workers for the organization they are employed by and ultimately reducing the often significant inflow into various aspects of our social security/benefit systems from which exiting is often very difficult and challenging, resulting in long term dependence, to the detriment of all stakeholders.

For further details, please see website at:
https://www.pcu-whs.ca/programs/continuing-professional-education/dmpc-program/