PUTTING EXPERIENCE BACK TO WORK
An Older Worker Project, funded under the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement
DIGBY AREA LEARNING ASSOCIATION PROGRAM HELPS OLDER WORKERS GAIN EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN 5 COMMUNITIES
August 12 was the completion of a successful program at the Digby Area Learning Association (DALA) that resulted in older workers gaining meaningful employment.
DALA received funding through the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement (LMA), through which Canada will transfer an estimated $85 million to Nova Scotia over six years to help low-skilled workers, individuals who are not eligible for Employment Insurance benefits, and groups who are under-represented in the workplace, to find sustainable employment.
This LMA project was administered in Nova Scotia by the province’s Department of Labour and Workforce Development, Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development Division. Older Worker projects, among the many LMA programs offered, provide a wide range of employment services to older workers who are unemployed, legally entitled to work in Canada and lack the skills needed for successful integration into new employment.
The DALA program was designed to train and assist older workers in gaining sustainable employment. The format of the DALA program combined thirteen weeks of academic and skills training followed by work experience and a period of up to 13 weeks of working with non-profit organizations in various communities to demonstrate skills that were acquired as part of the re-training program and to gain further experience.
Eighteen older workers aged 55 to 64 started the program to do something they had not done in many years; they joined a program to upgrade and refresh many of their work-related skills. Working out of the DALA Career Resource Center, the participants upgraded many of the competencies required in today’s modern work force. Classes were held regularly on the following topics: workplace essential skills, basic and advanced computer skills, resume writing, job interview skills, job search techniques, and problem solving skills.
Participants who required educational upgrading were given a GED preparatory course, while other participants worked on Individualized Learning Projects which included portfolio design, developing business plans and market research for self employment work options. To prepare them for the interpersonal relations and the motivational teamwork required in the modern workforce, everyone attended both the “Fish Philosophy” and “Personality Dimensions”. Both these are internationally recognized seminars that are available here in Digby at DALA.
Because today’s workplace requires safety certifications in many different areas, all participants were trained and certified in: Basic First Aid/ CPR, OH&S, Safe Food Handling, and WHMIS. Running throughout the program was the Age Advantage Essentials program designed by ACSBE (Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship). This highly interactive program was designed to assist older workers acquire the tools and strategies required to transition into new employment or create their own jobs or businesses.
“It was one of the best programs I have ever worked on” said Dane Berringer, M Ed., who was the Adult Education Program Officer for the project. “In my 15 years of teaching in community colleges and universities, this is the first course I have ever seen that blended the academic skills needed with top notch motivational and practical training that ended with work experiences that raised thousands of dollars for non profit organizations in our communities, truly a unique and well thought out design.”
DALA would like to acknowledge the Non Profit organizations that participated in the project
Digby Museum Project
Bethany Bargain Bin Project
Belliveau Cove Development Association Project
DC Riders Project
TLC Animal Shelter Project
Scallop Days Project
Lent House Community Hall and Lobster Co-op project
Woman’s Place Resource Center Project
New Horizon Club Project
What the participants said about the course:
“DALA gave me the confidence I needed to write this book, without this course, it would not have been possible” Gary Milner
Because of the program Gary Milner was able to write and publish his book “The Courage to Go On , ( Escape from addictions)”. Designed to help people with addictions overcome the fear of their past and to deal with their future. To our knowledge this is the first time that this type of publication resulted from an age advantage course.
“I learned that I am a strong person with good ideas and that I have a lot of abilities that could contribute to the type of employment I desire” Participant
“The course has helped me overcome the challenges of ageism that I perceived as a drawback and in turn focus on the strengths and assets I bring to the marketplace as an older worker.” Participant
“I have learned that I am more marketable than I thought” Participant
“When I first started GED, I thought I would never make it. The longer it went the less intimidating it seemed.” Participant
“It enhanced my appreciation for life long learning and the interaction in class has been beneficial, enlightening and fun” Participant
“It was a great course; it defiantly helped me to create some focus in my life.” Participant
“Even though I had very little education I now know that if you put your mind to something you can accomplish it” Participant
At the end of the program, many of the participants had their own business ventures up and running or were employed at different occupations in the areas within the non-profits in which they completed their work experience.
The success of the course is evident in the amount of money being given back to the community as well as the 87% employment rate for the participants who completed the program. DALA would like to thank the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development for the opportunity to complete this LMA Older Worker project.