SARC - Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres: Member Agencies

Basic Skills Training

BST is a program designed to meet the needs of Direct Support Workers in SARC Member Agencies. It has been used extensively in Saskatchewan and Alberta to provide Direct Support Workers with a basic understanding of the values, attitudes, and skills that are necessary to promote choices, independence, and quality life experiences for the individuals they support.

How Does BST Work?

An agency chooses an employee to be trained as a BST Tutor. The employee attends the Train the Tutor Workshop coordinated and facilitated by SARC that prepares him/her to return to the agency and teach learners. Once you have a trained Tutor, BST is taught completely in-house, so it is convenient and low cost to agencies. This content can be taught in groups or one-on-one.

Why BST?

• Builds staff expertise and confidence
• Positively impacts attitudes towards choice, dignity and respect
• Provides skill based, hands-on training and evaluation
• Offered in-house
• Low cost
• Leads to higher retention and better trained staff
• Includes agency specific policies and information
• Bursaries are available through provincial training funds to cover the cost
• BST Learner Graduates get four course credits recognized at SIAST's Disability Support Worker Certificate
• Opportunity for Tutors to PLAR for the same four credits in the DSW Program
• Tutors receive ongoing support through SARC

To learn more about Basic Skills Training, how the program works, and what the benefits are, click on the following links:

Basic Skills Training Bursary Application

For more information, please contact:

Corinne Sonntag, Coordinator of Research and Development

Mindy Bonderoff, Facilitator of Training and Education

Phone: 933-0616.

Resource Materials:



Home Members Login Basic Skills Training Tutor Login Bursaries Recommended Links Contact Us SARC	Basic Skills Training BST is a program designed to meet the needs of Direct Support Workers in SARC Member Agencies. It has been used extensively in Saskatchewan and Alberta to provide Direct Support Workers with a basic understanding of the values, attitudes, and skills that are necessary to promote choices, independence, and quality life experiences for the individuals they support. How Does BST Work? An agency chooses an employee to be trained as a BST Tutor. The employee attends the Train the Tutor Workshop coordinated and facilitated by SARC that prepares him/her to return to the agency and teach learners. Once you have a trained Tutor, BST is taught completely in-house, so it is convenient and low cost to agencies. This content can be taught in groups or one-on-one. Why BST? • Builds staff expertise and confidence • Positively impacts attitudes towards choice, dignity and respect • Provides skill based, hands-on training and evaluation • Offered in-house • Low cost • Leads to higher retention and better trained staff • Includes agency specific policies and information • Bursaries are available through provincial training funds to cover the cost • BST Learner Graduates get four course credits recognized at SIAST's Disability Support Worker Certificate • Opportunity for Tutors to PLAR for the same four credits in the DSW Program • Tutors receive ongoing support through SARC To learn more about Basic Skills Training, how the program works, and what the benefits are, click on the following links: Basic Skills Training Bursary Application For more information, please contact: Corinne Sonntag, Coordinator of Research and Development Mindy Bonderoff, Facilitator of Training and Education Phone: 933-0616. Resource Materials: