College program leads to community support career
Early on, Alice George knew she had a passion for helping others. Working as a cashier for the Nk’Mip Gas and Convenience Store in Oliver, George met people who needed more assistance than she could offer during her interactions at her workplace.
“I had an interest in helping others,” says George, “I knew I could do more.”
Going back to school was hard, so George and her husband challenged each other to pursue continuing their educations. Once her husband, Edward, had successfully completed his six-month program through Okanagan College, George started looking for educational opportunities for herself.
Turns out that finding the Aboriginal Community Support Worker program was right up her alley.
“This program was the product of extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities throughout the Interior of B.C. as well as a number of community entities that serve Indigenous peoples in the region,” explains Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, Okanagan College’s director of continuing studies and corporate training.
“The growing need for social and community support workers with a deeper knowledge of the specific challenges facing Indigenous individuals and families prompted us to respond to this training need.”
The full-time program includes course work and a practicum that prepares individuals to step into community support work assisting Indigenous individuals and families, both on- and off- reserve, to enhance their quality of life.
“The program gave me a better understanding of Indigenous history and current issues facing Indigenous communities today,” says George.
“If you’re willing to dig deeper and become self-aware of your own biases and values, you can really build on your professional skills. That is when the work becomes more interesting.”
“The college was such a welcoming place to go to school and my experience has inspired me to pursue additional post-secondary education,” says George.
“My perspective has really shifted – I now have a much more compassionate and empathetic view on how to support others.”
In preparation for the fall intake, Okanagan College will offer an information session on Tuesday, Aug. 14, in Room E105 at the Vernon campus of Okanagan College, located at 7000 College Way in Vernon.
The session will provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about the program, ask questions and learn more about financial support options.
The Aboriginal Community Support Worker certificate is just one of the hundreds of Continuing Studies courses and certificates that are offered at Okanagan College campuses.
To find out more about the series or to discover a new career path, check out Okanagan College’s newly released fall 2018 Continuing Studies brochure at okanagan.bc.ca/csbrochure.