In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We facilitate the healing process for 1,000 survivors of torture each year, and
We facilitate the healing process for 1,000 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution.
VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT). Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 40 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.
The Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator works in close liaison with the Admin team, Research team, Clinical team, Community Engagement Team (CET - formerly Intake), and others, to support the needs of the VAST client community and our partners, as related to policy, advocacy, intake, engagement, and follow-up. This position supports the CET team’s efforts to facilitate referred individuals to access the required services and resources
appropriate to their situation.
Reporting Relationship: Reports directly to the VAST Management Team
Employment Type: Full-Time, Temporary (Leave Replacement)
Union Status: Unionized role under CUPE-1936
Location: Hybrid (In-person requirements at VAST office locations, to be determined)
Compensation: $30.08 per hour
This position requires knowledge, training, and passion for human rights and public policy and advocacy, as well as direct lived experience, especially in the area of mental health and forced migration. The successful candidate demonstrates capability for responsibility, organization, collaboration, and critical thinking. The Coordinator will support and liaise with the Development and Research Manager, the Executive Director, and the Community Engagement Team Co-Leads, to coordinate team and community member advocacy efforts, and drive change to help families province-wide, as well as influence policy nationally and internationally.
