BRANTFORD, October 13, 2026 – Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) is pleased to announce that its accredited Social Service Worker (Indigenous Specialization) Diploma program will welcome its first cohort of students in January 2027.
The program received formal approval from the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC) on August 25, 2026, following a comprehensive quality assurance process that included review by IAESC, an external review panel, the Indigenous Institutes Quality Assessment Board (IIQAB), and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
The approval is an important milestone for SNP and represents another expansion of SNP’s independent post-secondary programming. SNP has offered Social Service Worker education for several years, and the new diploma program provides students with the opportunity to complete their education at an Indigenous Institute in a learning environment grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
“This program represents an important step forward for SNP and for students who want to build careers supporting individuals, families and communities,” said Dr. Richard Anderson, President and CEO of Six Nations Polytechnic. “Students will receive the professional education they need for Social Service Worker practice while learning in an environment that recognizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge, relationships and responsibilities to Community.”
The Social Service Worker (Indigenous Specialization) Diploma has been designed to prepare graduates for professional practice while incorporating Indigenous perspectives throughout the program. Students will develop knowledge and skills in areas including wellness, culturally safe practice, Community engagement, land-based learning and decolonizing approaches. Experiential and community-based learning, including supervised field placements, will connect classroom learning with the communities and settings in which they will work.
“We are very proud to bring an independent Social Service Worker diploma program to SNP,” said Dr. Amy Gleiser, Dean, Community, Health Services, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship. “Social Service Workers play an important role in supporting people and communities, and there is strong demand for this kind of education. Our program combines the professional standards required for Social Service Worker practice with an educational experience grounded in Indigenous knowledge, relationships and community.”
The program meets the program standards of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the OCSWSSW, the regulatory body for social service workers in Ontario.
SNP’s first cohort of Social Service Worker (Indigenous Specialization) Diploma students will begin in January 2027 at the Brantford campus. Further information about admissions and how to apply will be available through Six Nations Polytechnic. https://www.snpolytechnic.com/program/social-service-worker-indigenous-specialization
Share this Content: