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 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 35 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 occupational therapist (OT) will support individuals from a refugee or forced displacement background, irrespective of Visa status, who reside in British Columbia. Support will include individual sessions, VAST general groups and programs, and through the new VAST Belonging through Doing program. The OT will be responsible for pre-program planning, delivery, and evaluation of the completed program. The program's primary goal is to explore previously identified activities that hold meaning to the individual and facilitate engagement in those activities or support identifying new activities to establish a sense of identity in Canada. The goal of individual sessions is to support trauma recovery processes, and rehabilitation for survivors of torture and war.
Qualifications - Essential
Masters of Occupational Therapy and professional membership with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) or another equivalent provincial accreditation body.
Minimum of several years of experience as a registered occupational therapist in a cross-cultural setting, preferably with displaced peoples or refugees.
Thorough knowledge of theoretical, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate principles, approaches and practices of occupational therapy
Familiarity with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) evaluation tool
Demonstrated experience in group facilitation
Demonstrated ability to intervene in crises using professional judgment and ethical practice
Understanding of the Canadian migration pathways and refugee protection mechanisms
- Understanding of the United Nations Convention Against Torture
Knowledge and understanding of the social and psychological dimensions of forced migration and resettlement and the refugee claimant experience
Qualifications - Highly Desirable
Demonstrated experience working with interpreters in a group setting
Ability to speak multiple languages is an asset
**For any of the above that the candidate still needs to possess as skills and experience, they are expected to pursue pathways to inform and update.
