News from Newcomer Information Centre

Second Career
Second Career is an Ontario government program which provides you financial assistance, so you could be trained for careers that are in high demand and will be in high demand in the near future. Smiles will come back to you and you will value yourself even more after the training!

How much can I get?
You can get up to $28,000 towards the costs of tuition, books, living expenses and other costs related to training. Where applicable, you can get funding for relocation expenses, dependent care, disability accommodation, and academic upgrading. Examples of funding

I am a newcomer, can I apply?
If you have been laid off any time after January 1, 2005, you are eligible to apply for funding, even if you are currently working full-time! You are eligible if you are
1.    Unemployed or
2.    Working less than 20 hours a week or
3.    Have taken an interim job to make ends meet

4. Receiving EI

5. Not eligible for EI

You could be laid off from any job. You don't necessarily have to be laid off from a low-demand job.

There are other criteria that each candidate must meet. An Employment Assessment Centre can do a full evaluation of this opportunity for you.

Which careers qualify for training?
The purpose of the training is to get you employed or make you more employable. Therefore, training for careers that are in high-demand have higher chances to be approved. You need to provide information that proves there is demand for those careers. You can build on your past education and experience or choose an entirely new career. Click here to see careers that qualify for funding.

Colleges also have dedicated web pages and phone numbers to tell you which programs are eligible for funding.

Which training is the best for me?
Career counseling is available for those who would like to know how their present skills, experience and interests applies to high demand careers.
Success Stories

So what is the first step
Please contact an Employment Assessment Centre to discuss your options. It would help if you go prepared with information about your work experience, your education, your skills and your interests. If Second Career is the right choice, the counsellor will help you prepare a training plan and apply for Second Career. If you live in Brampton, contact VPI at (905) 866-6001. If you live in Mississauga, contact Mississauga Community Connections at (905) 896-2233.

For more information contact nic@tcet.com.