Innovative Recruitment Initiative of Refugees in Ethiopia
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services is pleased to participate in an innovative project to recruit skilled health-care workers who are living as refugees in Ethiopia. Virtual interviews with prospective candidates took place over a three-day period in October in locations across Ethiopia and potential job offers are forthcoming.
“We are exploring all avenues to attract and recruit health-care professionals locally, nationally and internationally, and we are already seeing the results of these efforts,” said David Diamond, CEO, NL Health Services. “The successful recruitment of health-care workers in Ethiopia is mutually beneficial for candidates and their family members who may be able to leave a precarious living situation to come to work in Newfoundland and Labrador to provide much needed patient care within the communities we serve.”
Prospective candidates are required to meet immigration requirements as well as demonstrate health care and English proficiency skills.
“NL Health Services continues to actively recruit talented health-care workers here at home, and abroad in an effort to meet all the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Debbie Molloy, vice president Human Resources, NL Health Services. “NL Health Services is a great place to work and an ideal place where health-care professionals from anywhere in the world can grow their careers. As such, we encourage communities throughout the province to continue to provide a warm welcome to the health-care professionals joining us from around the world so that health-care workers can have the best possible experience living and working in our province. Our hope is that Newfoundland and Labrador may become their permanent new home.”
This recruitment initiative is an ongoing collaboration with government, partners and institutions that seek to help identify and interview qualified health-care workers who are living as refugees and interested in relocating to Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of nine provinces and territories participating in this initiative.
NL Health Services is assisted in this pioneering initiative by TalentLift, a non-profit international recruitment agency, and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Ethiopia, who collaborated to identify talented job seekers in health care and support them through the recruitment and immigration experience; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) visa program.
“NL Health Services is among a growing group of leading employers taking a deeply inclusive approach to global recruitment by extending opportunities to people in displacement, who are talented, resilient and keen to contribute their skills in a safe new home,” said Dana Wagner, managing director with TalentLift.
The recruitment of health-care workers living as refugees in Ethiopia is an example of the extensive and innovative recruitment initiatives that NL Health Services is actively pursuing to help sustain the delivery of health-care services for residents throughout the province. It also aligns with NL Health Services’ strategic priority of ‘Our People.’
NL Health Services has a number of opportunities for personal care attendants (PCAs), registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and others interested in working in health care. As a new organization, NL Health Services offers interesting and rewarding work in all areas of the province. Individuals interested in learning more are invited to visit our careers website for opportunities across the province.
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About NL Health Services
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NL Health Services) brings together five former separate health entities – Eastern Health, Central Health, Western Health, Labrador-Grenfell Health, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information. The creation of a provincial health authority was announced following recommendations from Health Accord NL.
NL Health Services is responsible for delivering health and community services to more than 528,000 people living in Newfoundland and Labrador and employs over 22,000 people.