What is the Newcomers Connecting to Trades Apprenticeship Resources (NeCTAR) Project?

The Newcomers Connecting to Trades Apprenticeship Resources project is designed to facilitate the access of Internationally Trained Tradespersons to apprenticeship and employment opportunities through improved information provision and service delivery. NeCTAR will:

• Provide easy access to timely and clear information on Apprenticeship Trades in Ontario;
  
• Develop training materials that will enhance community-based agency staff capacity to provide appropriate counseling and referral; and
  
• Improve agency outreach to ITTs and create linkages between community groups, employers, unions, apprenticeship field offices, training programs and other service providers.

Newcomers Connecting to Trades Apprenticeship Resources (NeCTAR) initiative is coordinated by COSTI in partnership with ACCES and JVS Toronto and with support from the Consortium of Agencies Serving Internationally Trained Persons (CASIP). NeCTAR is funded by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

How will the NeCTAR project be implemented?

The NeCTAR project is made up of 4 phases with ongoing research and evaluation to ensure input and feedback from ITTs, agency staff and key stakeholders.

Phase 1 - Research

A needs assessment will be conducted with agency staff using an online survey and focus groups. A gap analysis will be conducted and existing information on the steps and procedures necessary for ITTs to obtain apprenticeship and employment in the trades will be compiled. Consultations will be held with Trades Apprenticeship stakeholders.

Phase 2 - Solution Design

Training materials and an information package will be developed for Pilot Testing with ITTs and agency staff.

Phase 3 - Validation

Pilot Training sessions will be held with 100 ITTs and 50 agency staff. Feedback channels will be structured through evaluation tools and methods.

Phase 4 - Roll out

Final Training Sessions will be delivered to 200 agency staff. Information Materials will be disseminated across Ontario. Forecasted Project completion date is July 29th, 2005

An outreach plan will be implemented throughout the project to create linkages between stakeholders and ITTs.

How can you support NeCTAR and stay informed?

An important aim of the NeCTAR project is to meet the specific information and service delivery needs of community-based agency staff serving ITTs. You can support the NeCTAR by:

• Participating in an online needs assessment survey
• Attending a focus group
• Providing direct feedback on materials/training
• Referring ITTs to pilot training sessions