Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Tara Jones. I'm the contract manager at Agilec, overseeing the career transition services on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada. Agilec has been delivering career transition services since 2018. The services are available to eligible veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and reservists, as well as their spouses, common-law partners and survivors.
The focus of career transition services is to help individuals from these groups explore, plan for and achieve their employment and/or educational goals as they transition from military to civilian life. Services are delivered virtually in both official languages across Canada and internationally for those still serving. Since 2018 more than 5,200 individuals have accessed career transition services, with roughly 700 individuals participating at any given time.
Participants engage with us at various points in their transition journey and with various needs. Some come to us with very clear goals already established, while others are not sure where to start. Some transitioning participants seek entry-level work, while others seek executive-level positions. Serving members may have their release already planned, or they may just want to explore the possibilities. The service is flexible and designed to identify and address every participant's individual needs.
When someone enters transition services, their journey begins with an assessment of their career transition needs. The continuum of services ranges from exploration—of self, of employment possibilities, of training or education requirements—through career and education decision-making to transition planning. Plans that focus on employment may include such supports as job search skills training, resumé writing, interview preparation and job development. Plans that focus on training or education may include assistance with training and institution selection and support for accessing available funding, including the education and training benefit.
Our employment coaches collaborate one-on-one with each candidate, providing support that matches each person's needs and comfort. We strive to empower by providing the knowledge and skills that people require to take charge of their own transition journey. We offer guidance to help the plan move forward successfully. Of the participants who have engaged career transition services, 60% have set goals focused on employment and 40% have set goals focused on education or training. As well, 24% of plans include both employment and education and/or training goals.
The veterans we serve speak about the invaluable support of a partner in the transition process. The voice of veterans is a critical component in our ongoing assessment of the service's effectiveness and impact. To date, of participants who have completed our satisfaction survey, 91% report being satisfied with the support they receive from their employment coach.
I would like to close with some feedback received directly from one of our veteran participants, who secured employment in a civilian occupation through a successful job development match. These are the veteran's own words:
Looking back, this whole process…the transition out of the military…combined with the uncertainty of not knowing when a next opportunity will be lined up, and whether or not my military experience would be good enough…especially after applying to so many positions…would have been extremely draining and disheartening, but thanks to you all, it was such a fulfilling experience.
It is this type of impact that drives our team forward. We are honoured to deliver career transition services and are thankful for the contributions and sacrifices that veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and their families have made for our country and our freedoms.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.