RNAO Funding Opportunity for Students to Attend Queen's Park Day

Dear students, 

RNAO has created a great funding opportunity for students to support them to attend Queen's Park Day (QPD). 

The intent of this funding opportunity is to help nursing students develop their leadership and advocacy skills and to provide in-depth mentorship opportunities on policy and political advocacy. 

• Current undergraduate student members, living outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), may apply for financial support for travel and accommodations via this web link: https://MyRNAO.ca/studentadvocacyinactionparticipantapplication 

• Students must apply for funding support by Friday, Jan. 24, 2025

  • Funding decisions will be communicated by Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

  • Students must confirm their attendance by Friday, Feb. 7, 2025

• NOTE: Please read “Eligibility for funding” section below before applying.  

• Up to six students will be allocated funding to support their attendance at QPD.

• Students selected for funding support will have their transportation costs reimbursed (in alignment with EL-10) up to a maximum of $500 per student. To be reimbursed, they must submit all receipts through the SAGE accounting system per RNAO policy.  

• Students selected for accommodations support will be placed in shared hotel accommodations booked through RNAO’s board affairs coordinator. 

Eligibility criteria for funding: 

• Hold an active RNAO undergraduate student membership at the time of applying for funding. 

• Live outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).  

  • Note: Students who have access to public transit (GO transit or TTC) from their home address are not eligible to receive funding support to attend QPD. 

• Demonstrate involvement in RNAO activities at a chapter/region/IG/school level.  

  • Examples include: being a student ambassador; attending local meetings and events, and/or being an executive network officer (ENO). 

• Attend the QPD preparation virtual event prior to attending QPD (tentatively scheduled for Wed. Feb. 12, 2025 from 7-8 p.m.). 

• Students who are selected for funding are required to be present at the Queen's Park Day Orientation (Wed. Feb 26, 2024 from 6 - 9 p.m.) and Queen's Park Day (Thurs. Feb. 27, 2024 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

• Sign a "commitment form" to continue involvement with RNAO and identify how they plan to be involved with RNAO over the next two years post-completion of their QPD attendance.  

  • Examples include: Join an executive, present about their experience in a webinar, become a student ambassador, run for a Nursing Student of Ontario interest group position, become a workplace liaison. 

• NOTE: A student who has received funding through this initiative will not be eligible to reapply for funding in the following year and will not be eligible to receive similar funding to attend the RNAO AGM. 

Students who live in the GTA

• Students who live within the GTA can apply to attend QPD but will not have funding provided for transportation or accommodations: 

  • For 2025 there is space for 14 unfunded students to attend QPD

  • Complete the application form, available at this link: Application for Students: Student Advocacy in Action no funding | Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

There will be similar funding available for students to attend the AGM.