Health Careers in

Nunavut
Adapted from Linda Cree’s: Health Careers 2015

Are you interested in a career in Health? This toolkit will give you an introduction to the opportunities
within Nunavut!

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Developed by the Manager, Inuit Employment and Employee Development, Health HR Division
January 2019
Table of Contents
Career Opportunities .......................................................................................... 3

Working for the Department of Health ............................................................... 4

Education............................................................................................................ 5

Funding Opportunities, Scholarships and Bursaries............................................. 8

Career Evaluation ............................................................................................. 10

Questions and Answers .................................................................................... 12

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Developed by the Manager, Inuit Employment and Employee Development, Health HR Division
January 2019
Career Opportunities
In this section, we will talk about some of the different types of jobs that are in the Department of
Health.

Casual Employee – An individual hired to do work temporarily.

Part-Time Employee – Employment on a continuing basis for hours less than the standard workday,
week or month

Term Employment – Employment for a fixed period of time (3 year maximum)

Indeterminate Employment – Employment on a continuing basis, unless another period of employment

is specified.

Each employment category comes with exciting opportunities to grow and learn. The Department of
Health actively searches for new employees in various roles and jobs in each division. Whether it may be
a Clerk Interpreter, a Nurse, or even a Shipper Receiver! These three positions are only a small portion
of different types of services Health provides to Nunavummiut.

My name is Gail Redpath and I have been doing northern nursing for over 36 years now. My northern career
started in Northern Manitoba when my home church decided to send a team of young people to try to help a
fairly troubled First Nations Reserve. I stayed on in my nursing role when the team left. It was pretty
challenging, particularly due to our inexperience but complicated by no telephones or TV or radio (I can
remember getting excited when I heard static on the radio.) Anyway, I worked there for a couple of years
before getting the honour of attending the Dalhousie University Outpost and Community Health Program
sponsored by Health And Welfare Canada. That experience was life-changing for me. After an internship
period of 6-7 months at “Frobisher Bay” (Now known as Iqaluit), Churchill and “Eskimo Point”, I accepted the
nurse in charge position at the Igloolik Health Centre. After a couple of years there, a colleague and I
transferred to Arctic Bay where I continue to work. I have loved nursing in general and my northern career in
particular. I feel privileged to live and work in this beautiful community with great coworkers and lovely
clientele. The “Icing on the Cake” has been moving into an awesome state-of-the-art building this past
summer. So…welcome on board. I hope you enjoy your time in the north as much as I have.

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Developed by the Manager, Inuit Employment and Employee Development, Health HR Division
January 2019
Working for the Department of Health
The Department of Health comes with many different offices, with each division doing various types of
work. These divisions are divided into four core functions:

Directorate Public Health

 Office of Deputy Minister  The Office of the Chief Medical
 Assistant Deputy Minister, Officer of Health
Programs and Standards  Population Health
 Assistant Deputy Minister  Population Health Information
Operations
Health Care Service Delivery
 Corporate Services  Mental Health and Addictions
 Human Resources  Home Care and Community
 Policy and Planning Care
 Long-Term Care
Quality of Life
 Medical Transportation
 Providing Suicide Prevention
 Hospital and Physician Services
Initiatives
 Community Health Centres
 Crisis Response
 Health Insurance/Vital Statistics
 Treatment and Trauma
 Out-of-Territory Hospitals
 Building Relationships for
Reconciliation: Indigenous  Reciprocal Physician Billings

Cultural Competence  Oral Health

These offices have many positions ranging from Administrative Assistants to Supervisors and Directors.

Other positions in the Department of Health may include:

• Program Officers • Radiation Technologist

• Home and Community Care Workers • Policy and Planning
• Housekeeping • Wellness Programs
• Maternal and New Born Health • Nutrition
• Oral Health • Human Resources Coordinator
Along with these positions, there are opportunities to learn new skill sets to advance your careers.

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Developed by the Manager, Inuit Employment and Employee Development, Health HR Division
January 2019
Health offers an Education Upgrade Program for continous service employee’s to identify learning
opportunities to support Inuit in career advancement. It is designed to allow participants to remain in
their home communities during post-secondary studies.

The Government of Nunavut also provides Education Leave to indeterminate employees with a
minimum of 3 years of continuous service. Eligible employees may receive up to 80% of their salaries to
attend a credited post-secondary institution to further their career or professional development. In
addition to the basic assistance, when the Education Leave is at the request of the employer, the
employee would be entitled to receive an allowance equivalent to 100% of present base salary.

Education
This section will outline some Colleges and Universities that provide courses in Health related subjects.

This is not an extensive list and is provided to give insight on potential post-secondary education. For
more information regarding Post-Secondary Education, please talk to your School Councillor.

Nunavut Arctic College

Nunatta Campus Kivalliq Campus Kitikmeot Campus
Arctic Bay Arviat Kugluktuk
Cape Dorset Baker Lake Gjoa Haven
Clyde River Chesterfield Inlet Kuugaruk
Grise Fiord Coral Harbour Taloyoak
Hall Beach Rankin Inlet Cambridge Bay
Igloolik Repulse Bay
Iqaluit Whale Cove
Kimmirut
Pangnirtung
Pond Inlet
Qikiqtarjuaq
Resolute Bay
Sanikiluaq
For more information: For more information: For more information:
Phone: 867-979-7222 Phone: 867-645-4850 Phone: 867-983-4111
Toll-Free: 1-866-979-7222 Toll-Free: 1-866-979-7222 Toll-Free: 1-866-383-4533
E-Mail: nunatta@arcticcollege.ca E-Mail: kivalliq@arcticcollege.ca E-Mail: KitikmeotCampus@gov.nu.ca

Courses that may be available:

Pre-Nursing Inuinnaqtun Language Culinary Arts

Revitalization
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Inuit Studies Office Administration
Interpreter-Translator Computer Systems Technician Management Studies

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Developed by the Manager, Inuit Employment and Employee Development, Health HR Division
January 2019
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Phone: 709-896-6210
Fax: 709-896-2970
Labrador Institute
P.O. Box 490, Station B
Happy Valley, NL, A00P 1E0
www.mun.ca/labradorinstitute

On Campus Learning
Aboriginal History to 1763 Aboriginal and Indigenous Studies Health Ethics
Families Introduction to Sociology Indigenous Peoples and colonialism

Distance Learning
History Pharmacy Psychology
Medicine Nursing Human Kinetics and Recreation

Toronto Centennial College:

Phone: 416-289-5000
Toll Free: 1-800-268-4419
P.O. Box 631 Station A
Toronto, ON, M1K 5E9
admissions@centennialcollege.ca
https://www.centennialcollege.ca/

On Campus Learning
Health Studies Lab Facilities Health Informatics Technology Nutrition & Food Service
Emergency Management & Early Childhood Centres Esthetician (Spa, medical esthetics
Public Saftety and business operations)

Distance Learning
Medical Terminology Working with Families Medical Office Procedures
Introduction to Medical Development Across Life Span Business Cultural and Collective
Transcription – Developmental Psychology Practices
Essentials in Health Records Dental Terminology Styles and Practices of Medical
Management Transcription

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 Algonquin College:
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 1V8
613-727-4723
http://www.algonquincollege.com/ro/applicants/

Distance Learning
Anatomy and Physiology I for Hospital Procedures Food Preparation and Production
RPN
Body and Nutrition Human Resources Planning Medical Terminology
Psychology Introduction Employee Relations Toxicology

On Campus Learning
Working with the Terminally Ill
Registered Nurse – Critical Care,
Perinatal, Perioperative,
Operating Room* (All different)
Perioperative Lab Skills
IV Insertion with Blood
Withdrawal
Enhancing Success for Re-entry
into the Practical Nursing
Program
Understanding Hospice Palliative
Care – A Clinical Perspective
Critical Care Respiratory
Management
Good Body Mechanics and Safe
Client Transfers
Autism and Behavioural Science

University of Manitoba:
Admissions
424 University Centre
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
Phone: (204) 474-8808 Fax: (204) 474-7554
Toll Free: 1-800-224-7713
http://umanitoba.ca/student/admissions/index.html

On Campus Learning
Aboriginal Nursing Cohort Pre-Pharmacy Mathematics
Initiative – Pre-Nursing Program
Dental Hygiene Physical Therapy Human Nutritional Studies
Health Studies Pre-Dentistry English

My name is Annie Kolola, I am from Lake Harbour, now called Kimmirut, back in 1980, schools in
smaller communities were only up to grade 9, so some kids had to go to Frobisher Bay, Iqaluit now to
further our education, to grade 10. I remember I begged my mother to go to school here, she didn’t
want me to then. In the end, I had my late dad signed the forms After High School here in Iqaluit, I
decided I wanted to be a teacher, it didn’t work out, I was not made to teach kids, then I tried Social
work, didn’t work out either. So I worked in Administrative area, then I started working here at
Health, Human Resources area as Administrative Assistant, then I applied for Human Resource
Coordinator, I have enjoyed this job a lot, I like helping people, and what we do here is not all doing
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one thing. Annie Kolola, Human Resources Coordinator
Funding Opportunities, Scholarships and Bursaries
This is not an extensive list; you may ask your school councillor for more information on where to find
funding assistance.

Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS)

FANS provide residents of Nunavut enrolled in post-secondary institution with basic and supplementary
grants which, if you are successful in your studies, you do not need to pay back. You may also be eligible
for a loan. You may be eligible for scholarships in the amount of $500 up to $1500

More information may be found on the Government of Nunavut’s website:

http://gov.nu.ca/family-services/programs-services/financial-assistance-nunavut-students-fans

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Award/Scholarship Criteria Approximate Value Application
Required
Association of A commitment to the North and $5,000 Yes
Canadian Universities Northern Studies
for Northern Studies
TD Aboriginal Nurse Must be enrolled in a Bachelor, $5,000 Yes
Practitioners Master’s, PhD or Nurse
Scholarship Practitioner program
Aboriginal Must be enrolled as a full-time $1,000 No
Undergraduate undergraduate student at
Entrance Scholarship Memorial University

University of Toronto Scholarships

If you are invited to attend a Medical Doctor (MD) Program admissions interview, you will be
eligible to apply for the following awards. Information and instructions regarding the
completion and submission of this application will be e-mailed to you following the interview.
Award/scholarship Criteria Approximate value Application
required
Yvonne de Buda Nursing degree or diploma $10,000 No
Memorial Admission
Scholarship
John Wolfe McColl Academic achievement in $900 No
Memorial Awards premedical studies
Saul Raxlen Memorial Academic excellence in premedical $950 No
Scholarship studies
More information may be found on the MD Program, University of Toronto’s website:
http://www.md.utoronto.ca/pre-admission-scholarships

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Algonquin College
Award/scholarship Criteria Approximate Application
value required
Fred Deveney Clinical and academic excellence Varies year to No
Practical Nursing year
Award
Mental Health Creation of a dual diagnosis video Varies year to No
Advocacy Award presentation year
More information may be found on the Financial Aid page,
https://www.algonquincollege.com/financial-aid/awards-and-scholarships/awards-scholarships-area-
study/hcs/

University of Manitoba
Award/scholarship Criteria Approximate Application
value required
Indigenous Leader of Outstanding leadership potential $16,000 (over 4 Yes
Tomorrow with academic giftedness years)
Scholarship
Helen Betty Osborne Enrolled in post-secondary Up to $5,000 No
Memorial Foundation studies in Manitoba
Award Must maintain a minimum course
load of 60%
More information may be found on the University of Manitoba’s Financial Aid and Awards page:
http://umanitoba.ca/student/fin_awards/aboriginal_students/index.html

Other
Award/ Criteria Approximate Application More information
scholarship Value required
Indspire Enrolled at an accredited Minimum Yes https://indspire.ca/fo
Health post-secondary $1,000 r-students/bursaries-
Careers institution, traditional scholarships/
knowledge program or
arts training
Queen Top GPA in respective $3,000 No Please email
Elizabeth II year (2, 3 and 4) Healthhr@gov.nu.ca
Scholarship Enrolled at NAC in
Nursing Program
Department Students must sign a $2,500 per Yes Please email
of Health, Return of Service semester Healthhr@gov.nu.ca
GN Nursing Agreement
Bursary Must be enrolled at NAC
in Nursing Program

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Government student loans are a great way to help you pay for your post-secondary education at a
designated college, university or other post-secondary institution.

The Government of Canada, and most provincial or territorial governments work together, to deliver
federal and provincial student loan and grant programs. Information may be found on the Government
of Canada’s website or the Government of Nunavut’s Education page.

Career Evaluation
Did you know that different careers in the Department of Health require various prerequisites? These
prerequisites may include Math, English, Language and Social skills.

An example of a career evaluation could be:

Job Title: Community Health Representative
Average Starting Salary: $65,832
Summary:
Works with a variety of health professionals in the prevention of disease and maintenance of health,
and protection of individuals and communities from harmful exposure to disease and disability; in health
promotion, the CHR observes the cultural values of the community in which they work; knowledge of
health assessment systems,
(examples of CHR work done in the communities - public awareness campaigns, poster displays, radio
shows around a variety of topics or recognition of specific events)
Education: Grade 12 Useful Skills/Experiences: Useful High School Subjects:
Diploma or equivalency. CHR  Ability to effectively Aulajaaqtut
Training communicate and facilitate Social Studies
individuals and groups. Health and Life Skills
 Knowledge of current trends
in Territorial Public Health
and Health Promotion
priorities is an asset.
 Knowledge of computers,
Microsoft and web
browsing.
 First Aid and CPR is an asset.
 Valid driver’s licence is an
asset.
Duties:
• Partners with Supervisor Community Health Programs (SCHPs), Community Health
Development Coordinators (CHDC’s), and Community Health Wellness Coordinators (CHWC’s) to
build capacity and implement health promotion initiatives.
• Engages individuals and communities in a consultative process.
• Recognizes and builds on the readiness of the group, or community to participate in health
promotion initiatives.
• Understands group dynamics and effectively uses facilitation skills to support health
promotion initiatives.

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Job Title: Nurse Practitioner
Average Starting Salary: $101,634 – $115,343
Summary:
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides residents with advanced health assessment, diagnosis,
intervention and follow-up care in order to promote, protect and restore health and to prevent and
reduce the incidence of disease, disability and death. The Nurse Practitioner practices in accordance
with the Registered Nurses Association of Northwest Territories and Nunavut (RNANT/NU) acts,
standards, and regulations, as well as with the Department of Health Policies, guidelines and mandate to
ensure residents have access to timely, professional and sustainable health services required to
maintain optimal health.
Education: Useful Skills/Experiences: Useful High School Subjects:
Graduate Level Advanced  CPR level C Math
Nursing Practice degree or  Knowledge of advanced Science
Certificate in Advanced Nursing nursing processes English
Practice (assessment, planning,
implementation and
evaluation)
 Ability to apply advanced
nursing processes
(assessment, planning,
implementation and
evaluation)
 Communication Skills
 Ability to provide
emergency care treatment

Duties:
The NP provides a comprehensive community health service in conjunction with the health care team
and works within the context of primary health care to improve the capacity of clients and communities
to adapt to, respond or control, life’s challenges and changes.

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Questions and Answers

Why should I work for the Department of Health?

 Health careers provide a challenging and stimulating work environment.

 There are many opportunities for personal and career growth.
 It can be very rewarding.

Who can I talk to about careers in Health?

 Community Health Representatives (CHRs), nurses, your counsellor at school, Math and Science
teachers, family and friends

Are there certain courses I should take in High School?

 Math, biology, chemistry, physics, English, Inuktitut/Inuinnaqtun, computers and social studies.
Grades are important and should be 70% or higher.

How do I apply to Colleges and Universities?

 Student services and post-secondary counsellors in your community, education centre, or the
school you attend, can provide you with information on colleges and universities.
 Many colleges and universities charge a fee that must be included with your application.
 Start your search early (October or November)

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