The following is from the University of Victoria’s nomination package highlighting the extent of Island Health’s engagement with co-operative education:

Island Health has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to hire UVic students regardless of economic circumstances. Island Health has hired across many disciplines, including Anthropology, Biochemistry/Microbiology, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Dispute Resolution, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Health Information Science, History, Kinesiology, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing/Health Infomatics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Recreation & Health Education, Software Engineering and Studies in Policy & Practice, as well as at the undergraduate and graduate (Masters) level. They also hire UVic graduates -students who have both completed their undergraduate or graduate degrees and become professionals in their field. To date, Island Health has hired 356 Co-op students, and over the last three years, has hired 127 students – a remarkable commitment to learning.

Over the years, UVic co-op students have worked in a variety of sites and programs within Island Health.  This includes occupational safety, surgical infomatics, policy and business analysis, communications, summer camp leaders for children with disabilities, human resources, biomedical engineering, telehealth, hygiene, contract analysis and more.  Island Health has provided students with the opportunities to develop both core and discipline-specific competencies in a myriad of way including occasions to apply their academic learning directly with clients, understand the need for managing their own time to ensure project are completed, comprehend the role that disability plays in quality of life, understand how practitioners use their skills in a range of ways to meet client needs, and much, much more.  Students are able to see the impact of their work first-hand and take that experiential experience forward with them.

Additionally, Island Health has had a long-term, strong presence on-campus by participating in speaker panels, information sessions, mock interview clinics, advisory boards, joint initiatives and more.

Numerous individuals within Island Health are to be recognized for providing mentorship, career guidance and exemplary leadership through experiential learning opportunities to students:

  • Audrey Gibson (Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health) hires Exercise Science, Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts and Biology students
  • Rod O’Connell (Strategist, Talent Acquisition & Retention) hires from across many program areas
  • Dr. Angeli Mitra (Hand Hygiene Observer program) hires Biochemistry/ Microbiology students
  • John Bartle-Clar (Pharmacy Informatics) and John Harper (Information Management/Information Technology) hire Health Information Science students
  • Keva Glynn (Mental Health and Substance Use) hires Public Administration and Dispute Resolution students

Island Health has demonstrated a strong commitment to the same values and goals for excellence in experiential learning as our Association.   We are proud to have their ongoing support and look forward to many more years of co-operative education partnership.