Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator

Position Summary

The Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator works closely with the Admin, Research, Clinical, and Community Engagement teams (CET) to support VAST clients and partners on policy, advocacy, intake, engagement, and follow‑up. The role facilitates referred individuals into required services and resources appropriate to their situation.

Reports directly to the VAST Management Team.

Employment type:

full‑time, temporary (leave replacement).

Location:

hybrid (in‑person requirements at VAST office locations). Compensation: $30.08 per hour. Union status:
Unionized under CUPE‑1936.

• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Team Co‑Leads to:
  • Identify clients who need an intake session.
  • Exchange information about clients and clinical assignments.
• Conduct individual and small‑group intake sessions, including:
  • Contact clients to complete their profile information.
  • Identify clients’ non‑clinical needs and clinical concerns.
  • Provide relevant information on services available for newcomers and refugees in BC.
  • Make referrals to other service providers when needed.
  • Make electronic notes of client information in the database.
  • Arrange clinical session appointments.
• Follow up with clients to provide support and identify further needs.
• Book, reschedule, and cancel appointments.
• Arrange clients’ participation in group sessions.
• Train clients on communication platforms.
• Assist support groups (e.g., GTI, VAST Outdoors) by:
  • Preparing room/video‑conference links and required documents.
  • Providing interpretation before, during, and after sessions.
  • Filling out attendance sheets and entering information into the database.
• Help organize the strategy for monthly mental health orientation sessions ('Welcome to VAST') for different cultural groups and co‑facilitate language‑specific sessions.
• Translate forms, posters, documents, and social‑media posts in a timely manner.
• Participate in Community Engagement Team meetings.
• Provide support for VAST activities such as Move & Relax and outdoor activities.
• Provide information to health centres, law firms, settlement agencies, and other service providers on referral processes.
• Receive referrals via email, fax, and phone calls and follow up with referral sources.
• Create and regularly update a comprehensive listing of community resources for Intake Support Workers.
• Support interviewing interpreters.
• Perform other duties as requested.
• Support the Cultural Broker and Survivor Advocates Program by:
  • Maintaining relationships with partners such as UN, IRCT, MOSAIC, and ISSofBC.
  • Assisting with reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Assisting with recruitment, promotion, and selection of participants.
  • Staying in close communication with program participants.
  • Assisting with curriculum and program plan design.
  • Assisting with facilitation of sessions.
  • Assisting with development of partnerships.
  • Coordinating the VAST Research and Knowledge Center.
  • Monitoring relevant literature, policies, training opportunities, and dates related to VAST’s work.
• Community Engagement duties such as:
  • Providing training on database and VAST tools for new volunteers, practicum students, and staff.
  • Supporting VAST Business Whats App.
  • Coordinating and supervising Community Kitchen and other VAST activity events with volunteers.
  • Participating in support groups when needed.
  • Participating in staff meetings and workshops.
  • Providing general support to the office.
  • Facilitating workshops on refugee mental health for service providers.
• Advocacy activities such as:
  • Coordinating annual policy goals and strategies with executive leadership.
  • Supporting the VAST Annual Symposium on Torture.
  • Preparing written communications (emails, briefs, letters, budget submissions, website texts, newsletters).
  • Promoting VAST’s policy priorities through government and media relations.
  • Providing operational support for advocacy coalitions, campaigns, and working groups.
  • Networking and building relationships with a wide variety of partners.
  • Tracking and analyzing policy related to torture, forced migration, and mental health.
  • Preparing, editing, and disseminating digestible summaries and infographics.
  • Attending meetings and workshops, taking notes, building…