Background
The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy was launched in 1999 by the federal government in response to the Gathering Strength document. Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) implemented the National Aboriginal Human Resources Strategy to continue to improve employment opportunities and self-reliance for Aboriginal people across Canada. Approximately 79 organizations or groups signed five-year agreements (April 1999 to March 2004) to implement their own human resource programs and services within Aboriginal communities. These are known as Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreements (AHRDAs).
The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) has signed a separate Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement (AHRDA), with the mandate to deliver employment assistance programming to off-reserve Aboriginal women. Currently, NWAC has 12 partner organizations called Provincial Training Management Associations that deliver employment and training initiatives across the country.
Employment & Training Program Objective
The objective of the training and work experience projects is to improve the employment potential and earning capacity of Aboriginal Women living off-reserve.
Eligibility Criteria
Aboriginal Women living in the region may participate if they are unemployed, under-employed or employed and seeking assistance with employment maintenance. Those whose work environment is undergoing change or down-sizing due to technological or market change may also apply. All applicants must meet this specific program's criteria.
Application and Approval Process
The Employment and Training Coordinator has the overall responsibility of collecting and screening applications, referring persons to training and presenting the applications to QNW's employment and training committee. The coordinator also offers services such as referral to other agencies, assistance in developing proposals or applications for funding agencies, as well as organizing workshops.
Whenever possible, the applicant's letter of intent should be tied to her past training. If not, it should focus on her aspirations, career objectives or experience.
Applicants will be advised of our decision four weeks after submitting their request. If a request is not approved, the Coordinator will inform the applicant of the reasons for non-approval, and will provide the applicant with further information on the appeal process.
Until the candidate and potential training institution or employer are informed in writing that a funding application has been approved, the candidate and the training institution or employer will be expected to assume all financial risk. Applicants will not be reimbursed for cost associated with the training program, unless their participation and the associated costs have been approved prior to commencement.
Our policy is to pay tuition costs directly to the training institutions on the client's behalf; however, when it is necessary to reimburse a client for an eligible tuition expense, original receipts must be submitted.
Tuition assistance provided under this program is subject to income tax.
General Conditions and Funding Guidelines
- Minimum age for funding is eighteen (18) years of age.
- The maximum commitment to a client is two periods of twenty six weeks.
- Training must be certified, and if dispensed by private institutions, the latter must be registered with the responsible provincial bodies.
- Applications for training outside the province may be considered, based on the following criteria: cost effectiveness, unique program requirements and availability, demonstrated link to employment, credibility of the training institution.
- Vocational and technical applications may be considered, including apprenticeships.
- Applications for part-time training may be considered.
- Applications leading to college and university certification may be considered, but not for a full university degree program.
- Adult basic education will be supported if the funding is not available from local sources.
- Applications for purchasing correspondence and self-paced courses must demonstrate access to classroom instruction, tutor, or on-site instructor and the availability to complete within a reasonable time frame.
Reasons for Non-Approval
- Application does not meet program criteria or regional funding priorities.
- Applicant has not provided sufficient lead time for processing or is requesting retro-active coverage.
- Applicant has not successfully completed previously-funded programs.
- Insufficient funding is available.
- File is incomplete.
- Applicant is not a resident of the region.
- Applicant does not meet entry requirements for the training in question.
- Training has no direct connection to employment, labour market or growth sector.
- Request is to attend a conference unrelated to work or training plan.
- Living Expense Policy (Negotiated Financial Assistance)
- Living expenses (with the exception of incremental cost such as transportation, equipment and supplies, child care, short term living allowance, one-time travel allowances, etc.) be provided only after other sources of support are exhausted, including contact with income assistance workers, Employment Insurance officers, student loans at designated training institutions, bursaries, part-time supplementary employment and private income.
*Applicants are required to obtain a maximum level of assistance available to them through the provincial day care subsidy program prior to accessing childcare supplements from this program.
Notes
- Eligibility for living-expenses subsidies is determined based on a case-by-case assessment of client need.
- Assistance should not exceed the amount that would be reasonably expected as income following the training.
- Living expense supplements are paid directly to the client on a monthly basis.
- Non-incremental costs, such as clothing unrelated to the training or job, eye glasses, prescriptions, dental costs, etc., are not eligible for funding.
- In the case of disabled clients, certain non-incremental costs may be admissible, if properly documented.
Letter of Intent
(individual applicants must complete an application form and submit a letter of intent and a copy of your résumé.)
- Address your letter of intent to the Quebec Native Women Employment and Training Selection Committee.
- Be sure to include all your personal information; name, numbers, address and e-mail, and don't forget to sign at the bottom!
- Be specific about the type of funding you are applying for, whether it is for training or upgrading; for an employment program or a business venture that you are applying for, and be sure to include where you heard about it.
- Emphasize your qualifications. If you have certain skills that pertain to what your endeavours are, be sure to mention them in your letter.
- Don't be modest! Remember that a lot of clients are applying for the same funding, so be convincing about why you should be chosen. Know what you're talking about.
- It is very important to proof read, use your computer's spell check, and perhaps have someone else read your letter who can provide some constructive criticism.
- Most important: be sure to include your résumé!
Your CV
- Keep your CV brief! You want to send the message that you are qualified for the position you are applying for, and must do so in a few words. Keep in mind that the people receiving resumes are usually busy and will receive many other applications.
- At the top of your CV, include your name, address, phone number
and e-mail.
Include your career objective, qualifications, work experience and education. Don't forget to put them in chronological order, starting with your most recent. - Use 'bullet form' to outline your responsibilities and experiences. Remember to use your computer's spell-check!
- Use a standard font, 10 - 12 point type.
- Try to limit your resume to two pages.
- Include references or state at the bottom of you resume that "references are available upon request."
- Under "work experience", indicate the exact dates when you started to work and when you finished.
- Always save your CV for future use. Keep a copy or save it on your computer.
- Be sure to use your own words. It is better to use simple and plain language.
For more information, please contact us by Email, or by calling (450) 632-0088.
