Vocational Rehabilitation

Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your work or education plans. You may need support, information, or help planning your next steps. A vocational rehabilitation counsellor can help.

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About

Vocational rehabilitation counsellors

A vocational rehabilitation counsellor can work with you to create a plan based on your needs. This may include:

  • Returning to work or school
  • Staying at work or continuing school
  • Changing jobs
  • Finding new employment or training opportunities

Our counsellor can help you:

  • Explore options for returning to work if you work abilities have changed
  • Assess your ability to do work
  • Explore changes in your work-related goals and priorities
  • Understand your insurance benefits
  • Find community resources that support your ability to work
  • Access information about human rights and disability issues
  • Plan how to discuss health concerns with your employer
  • Negotiate workplace accommodations and return-to-work arrangements with your employer
  • Manage stress in the workplace
  • Identify your work interests and strengths
  • Find work or education programs
  • Find funding for retraining

Who can access the counsellor?

You can access vocational rehabilitation services from the time of your cancer diagnosis until 18 months after your active treatment ends.

Book an appointment

To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact your nearest BC Cancer Patient & Family Counselling office:

Appointments are available by Zoom, telephone or in person. In-person appointments are only available in Vancouver.

Groups

Job Search Seminar 

This seminar covers topics related to finding work after cancer, including:

  • Explaining gaps in employment on a résumé
  • Deciding whether to share health information with employers
  • Requesting workplace accommodations
  • Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities

For more information, call 236-668-8719.

Return to Work Group

This four-part seminar is for people returning to their previous workplace after cancer treatment. Topics include:

  • Preparing to return to work
  • Understanding insurance issues
  • Improving workplace well-being
  • Learning about employment rights
  • Negotiating a return-to-work plan 

For more information, call 236-668-8719.

Resources

Cancer and Work website 

Cancerandwork.ca provides information for people with cancer, health care providers, and employers. The website helps people stay at work, return to work or find new employment after a cancer diagnosis.

Topics include:

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