Yukon Hospitals is committed to supporting our people and teams, and honouring First Nations and Indigenous ways of being, doing and knowing as they pertain to the past, present and future of healthcare.
As part of this commitment, Yukon Hospitals has expanded our Indigenous Workforce Initiative (IWI) in an effort to increase representation of Yukon First Nations working in all areas of our hospitals, retain more Indigenous team members, and provide support to improve Indigenous professional development opportunities.
The initiative is driven by two Indigenous Engagement Advisor Business Partners within the Human Resources department.
We are happy to introduce Chelsey Gorczyca and Scott Longman.
Together, they’re working to develop programming to support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous team members and increase development opportunities for current Indigenous staff at the hospital.
Creating “Pathways” for Indigenous youth and communities
Scott Longman has developed a program called “Pathways” which aims to increase awareness within First Nations communities of opportunities for employment at our three Yukon hospitals; he says that he doesn’t think people always realize there are other non-medical positions available at the hospital beyond a physician or a nurse, or the learning path to gain the experience or qualifications for many positions.
“I think for many Indigenous people there’s a fear of institutionalized settings, including hospitals,” explains Longman. “So, there can often be a bit of hesitation to choose a career in healthcare. We want to let people know that there’s opportunity here —and potential.”
Longman and Gorczyca will be attending job fairs at high schools and universities across Canada to connect with Indigenous communities, in particular, the younger generation. They’re actively recruiting youth to the hospital’s First Nations Internship Program.
For both Longman and Gorczyca it’s exciting to be developing and building these programs from the ground-up. “I’m excited for the long-term potential,” says Longman.
He wants to connect with youth and plant the seeds for future recruitment opportunities. Since the summer, they’ve added 8 new employees to the hospital as a result of their efforts, including a youth intern. But it’s not simply about recruitment, it’s about building relationships with Indigenous people and community.
“The more Indigenous people we have working at Yukon Hospitals, the better the environment is for Indigenous people already working here,” says Longman. “We can create a community that supports one another.” And more Indigenous staff, in turn, translates into improved care for Indigenous patients. “Patients will be more likely to seek help and have a greater satisfaction for the help that they receive.”
Community Building and Retention
For Gorczyca, retaining Indigenous employees at Yukon Hospitals means community building.
“There’s something very exciting that happens when Indigenous people come together,” she says. “I don’t know how else to describe it, but we are very community and relationship-based.”
That feeling is what’s motivating both her and Longman in their new roles with HR. She points out that Indigenous employees can, at times, feel culturally isolated. The aim of her work is to support staff already working at Yukon Hospitals in their professional needs, and as well, to identify areas for growth and opportunity.
“We’re trying to build a sense of community to make the hospital culturally safe for Indigenous employees—and in turn, Indigenous patients,” says Gorczyca. “That’s a big value for us.”
She encourages Indigenous employees to reach out to her to discuss opportunities for growth within their roles at Yukon Hospitals. “For example, if someone is working in one department and they want to pursue education for, say, MRI tech, we can do our best to assist them,” she explains.
Longman says they’re already seeing the benefits of their roles to support existing staff. “Staff are willing to come forward and talk about their experiences at the hospital with us, which is great instead of feeling isolated.”
For both Gorczcya and Longman, they’re excited for the future of the program and Indigenous staff at Yukon Hospitals.
“I like the aspect of giving back to my community,” says Longman. “I think my grandma would be happy that I’m in a role like this and being able to support people.” Gorczcya agrees. “We want the hospital to be more representative of the community we serve,” she says.
They’re encouraging both existing staff and people interested in career options at Yukon Hospitals to get in touch via email, or phone.
To learn more or apply, please contact Scott Longman (Scott.Longman@yukonhospitals.ca) or Chelsey Gorczyca (Chelsey.Gorczyca@yukonhospitals.ca), or by phone at 867-332-7203.