Description
Student Wellness Services within Student Experience and Support is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Indigenous Student Support Advisor.
This position reports to the Director, Health & Counselling, and provide social work services, program development, and leadership based on student needs, including specific subgroup student populations. The Indigenous Student Support Advisor (SSA) provides social work services to students via one-on-one assessment, consultation, and outreach. All work is done in collaboration within the Student Wellness team, Student Wellness and Accessibility Services, other SES departments, and areas outside of SES such as faculties. Coordination of care, consult, and liaison is required with non-University community resources. Additionally, this position implements processes and services to enhance support and build connections between vulnerable student communities and relevant resources.
The Indigenous SSA role has a dual residence within SWS and Writing Symbols Lodge to establish a presence within the Lodge and with Indigenous students, becoming part of the coordinated support offered.
This position is predominately located at the U of C Main Campus; however, travel to the other campuses may also be required.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Intake and Case Management:
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Works as an independent and autonomous social worker to meet student needs. All social workers are licensed to give information and provide advice with the intent of enhancing personal development, providing emotional support, or promoting personal growth of individuals, couples, families, and groups.
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Facilitates the triage and referral and of students to additional internal and external supports, potentially for the purposes of longer-term engagement with those supports.
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Support for students and works in collaboration with the mental health and wellness teams to meet students needs.
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Works within an inter-professional care model to engage multiple professions to collaborate in creating and promoting a healthy university community.
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Provides intake support for students presenting in crisis in need of immediate mental health assessment, or same-day services.
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Conducts psychosocial assessments as identified by department and/or program and works with clients to collaboratively create relevant goals and effective case plans for goal-attainment.
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Recommends and implements resource-based interventions
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Considers student as part of the community and support in which they live
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Consultation for staff and faculty who are concerned about students who are transitioning to university, experiencing cultural transition issues or are isolated within their own communities, as well as possibly displaying at-risk behavior.
Outreach:
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Works with other departments and communities, such as Writing Symbols Lodge, International Student Services, Student Success Centre, Advising and Residence to engage individual students and offer support by building communities and offering supportive programming.
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Identification of vulnerable students and ensuring they have information to access resources
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Leads engagement with other student communities and programs to promote student retention and success.
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Establish collaborative relationships with Residence, Student and Enrolment Services units, faculties and external referral sources to support students.
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Coordinates the application of programs specific to these vulnerable populations.
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Offer workshops to promote positive teaching and learning environment.
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Participate in cultural activities and events to build rapport with Indigenous students.
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Facilitate referrals for accessibility needs for Indigenous students.
Program Development & Delivery:
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Conducts student service research.
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Acts as subject matter expert for practice in managing mental health issues.
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Uses experience to identify appropriate risk intervention model, including the National Association for Behavioral Intervention (NABITA).
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Plans and participates in programming related to prevention, promotion, and public awareness activities.
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Responsible for leading and building connections and facilitating referrals between students, university and community resources and promoting intercultural literacy
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Assess the needs of vulnerable student communities, particularly Indigenous students and other at-risk communities.
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Ensure broad consultation with students and communities regarding programs and delivery.
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Recommend programming and training in regards to working with and supporting at risk student behaviors.
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Promote education/mental health literacy to support the broader university community in supporting students.
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Organize, host and facilitate weekly mental health literacy programming within Writing Symbols Lodge, and other Indigenous spaces, that are aligned with Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being
Qualifications / Requirements:
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Bachelor degree in social work
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Maintenance of current registration with Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), in good standing.
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1-2 years minimum experience in mental health case management
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1-2 years within areas of indigenous health and well-being, or equivalent.
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Experience with crisis intervention, and suicide intervention training preferred.
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Experience working with youth or students expressing at-risk behaviors preferred.
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Trauma informed care or similar training/certificate preferred.
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Experience with program development, implementation, and delivery.
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Experience with outreach and working collaboratively with external programing.
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Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills
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Demonstrated adherence to POPA, including privacy and confidentiality, and dealing with highly sensitive material.
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Proven ability to work effectively with multiple departments, organizations and with people who are experiencing sensitive and complex situations.
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Demonstrated effective communication skills and the ability to model these skills to students and staff.
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Demonstrated proficiency in presentation and group facilitation skills.
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team and as an independent professional in a multi-disciplinary environment.
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Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples and alongside Indigenous communities including Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
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Significant knowledge of Indigenous trauma and associated healing processes.
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Demonstrated understanding of the cultural knowledge and communication skills required to connect with Indigenous students, schools and communities.
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Experience working with and understanding the impact of generational trauma and the resulting potential for substance misuse disorders.
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Knowledge of an Indigenous language an asset.
Application Deadline: July 27, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
