Please let us know if or how we can make the application process more accessible to you. 

 Time Commitment: 

 ~80 hours of training + ~480 hours (or 3 shifts) on call a month for one year **For white volunteers we also require a minimum of 3 additional unlearning white supremacy sessions- in addition to the 480 pager hours 

 Responsible to: Volunteer Coordinator, Access Line Coordinator/Clinic Coordinator 

 Position open to: Trans, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming people, and cis-women age 19+ 

 To Apply: https://bttr.im/9k3or 

 Application Deadline: December 1st at noon 

 Policy Restrictions: Applicants who have used VSAC services must be 1 year past last date of service at time of application. This position is not open to cis-men. Other volunteer opportunities are available. 

 Positions available: 12 

 About SART 

 The purpose of SART is to provide survivors of recent sexualized assault with emotional support and information on the community resources available to them. This requires Support Worker volunteers to liaise with hospital and police staff (as requested by the survivor) to support the survivor in accessing the services of their choice. Support may be offered over the phone, or in person at Victoria General Hospital, any of the local police departments, or at the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic (operated by VSAC). The Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic is the only fully integrated sexualized assault clinic in western Canada, meaning that a survivor can access support, medical services, and police reporting all at the Clinic.

 VSAC Mission Statement 

 The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women and all Trans survivors of sexualized assault and childhood sexualized abuse through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment. 

 Values of Victoria Sexual Assault Centre 

- Communicating in a direct, caring, confidential, and honest manner, showing respect, gentleness, acceptance, and celebration of each other in all our diversity 

-Each individual’s self-defined inner knowledge, empowerment, and right to dignity 

-A safe, accessible, and effective Centre where folks can engage in healing from sexualized violence 

-Social justice for all 

-Enacting an anti-oppressive framework, that acknowledges societal and systemic barriers and our own positions of power and dominance 

-Being transparent and accountable to the community regarding how and why our policies and practices are determined, enacted, and altered 

 COVID-19 Planning 

 Training will be delivered via a combination of in-person and Zoom sessions, and through self-paced online modules. The training cohort may be separated into two groups to make social distancing possible. We will ask participants to engage in community care by taking a COVID test before all in person sessions if they can. Applicants will be updated as new safety information develops. 

 SART Volunteer Support Worker Responsibilities 

- Provide an immediate support response at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre’s Clinic, the Victoria General Hospital and/or a police station to recent (0-30 days) survivors (all genders, 13+) of a sexualized assault, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day -Provide phone support to sexualized assault survivors 

-Provide information regarding medical and forensic examination procedures ---Provide information on options for reporting to police 

-Liaise and consult with the Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) and the police (if involved) 

-Provide information and support to family and friends of the survivor 

-Provide information on follow up support for survivor 

-Provide links to counselling and victim services at VSAC 

-For SART Volunteer Support Workers who are white it is your responsibility to take meaningful part in a monthly unlearning white supremacy group

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required 

-

- Knowledge of the root causes of sexualized violence Working knowledge of intersectional feminism 

-Demonstrated respect for survivors of sexualized assault

- Ability to work comfortably with recent survivors of sexualized assault either in the hospital, clinic, or police station 

-Ability to liaise with various community partners including police and hospital staff 

-Ability to work both independently and part of a team 

-Proven communication skills 

-Strong ability to give and receive feedback 

-Time management skills 

-Strong problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, and diplomacy skills -Strong boundaries and self-awareness 

-Basic understanding of the complex emotional reactions of sexualized assault survivors 

-Flexibility to adapt in unpredictable situations 

-Confidence to advocate for the survivor, if necessary 

-Ability to listen compassionately and without judgement 

-Demonstrated self-care practices 

-To feel stable in your personal healing process

- Can commit to 1.5 months of intensive training 

-Can commit to 3 shifts per month over 1 year after the completion of training

 Working Conditions 

 SART includes team members from Forensic Nurse Examiners and all Police Detachments. VSAC volunteers work both independently and as part of the team. Work will take place at the VSAC Clinic, Hospital, Police Station or other community agency in mixed indoor environments. Volunteers will provide emotional support over the phone from their home on a VSAC provided cell phone. This position requires overnight shift work and being on call for between 8-16 hrs, carrying a pager. 

 Supports for Volunteers 

-All volunteers are provided with opportunities to learn somatic tools to support grounding and nervous system regulation 

- All volunteers have access to online self care resources 

- All volunteers have access to VSAC staff to debrief SART responses one on one -All volunteers have access to bi-monthly group debriefs and on going trainings -Gender Diverse/Trans+ Volunteers have the opportunity to join the Gender Diverse SART Committee, which is a space that meets approximately 3x a year to foster community; share their experiences, and provide feedback to make the program safer 

-Black, Indigenous, People of Colour Volunteers have the opportunity to join the BIPOC SART Committee, which is a space that meets approximately 3x a year to foster community; share their experiences, and provide feedback to make the program safer for racialized volunteers 

-VSAC offers some counselling for volunteers who have been negative impacted by their volunteerism 

 Benefits to Volunteer 

- Advanced communications training 

-Training grounded in social justice and trauma informed practice 

-Ongoing training events 

-Build community connections 

-Team building skills 

- Education on the intersectional root causes of sexualized violence 

- Training Provided 1.5 months of twice a week intensive group training including ongoing evaluation and feedback 

-Ongoing trainings 

 Spring 2024 Training Schedule: 

 Tuesday April 2nd 2024 - Zoom - 4:30-8:30pm 

 Tuesday April 9th 2024 - In-person - 4:30-8:30pm

 Sunday April 14th 2024 - In-person - 10am-4:30pm

 Tuesday April 16th 2024 - Zoom - 4:30-8:30pm 

 Sunday April 21st 2024 - In-Person - 10am-4:30pm 

 Tuesday April 23rd 2024 - In-Person - 4:30pm-8:30pm 

 Sunday April 28th 2024 - In-Person - 10am-4:30pm 

 Tuesday April 30th 2024 - Zoom - 4:30-8:30pm 

 Sunday May 5th 2024 - In-Person - 10am-4:30pm 

 One - on - One Coaching Session - You select an hour slot between May 6th-10th

 Sunday May 12th 2024 - IN-Person - 10am-4:30pm

 Recruitment Timeline Applications Open: February 1st-March 6th

 Interviews: March 11th - 22nd

 Successful applicants contacted: March 25th

 Application Check-List - Available for all training dates - Completed application form, including resume, and references - Can commit to volunteering with VSAC until June 2025.

     Please direct any questions or comments to Riven Gail (zi/hir/hirs and he/him/his), Volunteer Coordinator: volunteercoor@vsac.ca