June 17, 2026 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 protected 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. ‍ Position Summary 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. ‍ ‍ Responsibilities CET Support‍ Collaborate with the Community Engagement Team Co-Leads to:

Identify the clients who need to have an intake session To exchange information about the clients and clinical assignments

Conduct individual and small group intake sessions, that includes:

Contacting the clients to complete their profile information

Identify the clients’ non-clinical needs and clinical concerns

Provide relevant information on the services available for the 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 the groups

Train clients on communication platforms

Assist with support groups like GTI, VAST Outdoors. This includes:

Assisting with preparation of the room/video conference link and the required documents

Conduct interpretation before, during and after the sessions

Fill out the Attendance sheet and enter the information into the database

Help to Organize the strategy for (English, Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Swahili, Ukrainian) and co-Facilitate (Spanish, maybe French) ‘Welcome to VAST’ monthly mental health orientation sessions for different cultural groups, and service providers, referral sources, prospective clients who speak that language

Translate forms, posters, documents and VAST Social Media posts in a timely manner

Participate in Community Engagement Team meetings with the Community Engagement Team

Provide support for other VAST activities like Move & Relax and outdoor activities

Provide information for health centers, law firms, settlement agencies, and other service providers on how to make referrals

Receive referrals through email, fax and phone calls and follow up with referral sources

Create and regularly update a comprehensive listing of resources available in the community for the Intake Support Workers’ use

Support with Interviewing Interpreters

Perform other duties as requested

‍ Cultural Broker and Survivor Advocates Program Duties Support the relationship with United Nations, IRCT, MOSAIC and ISSofBC, and Province of BC, to develop and implement the Cultural Broker and Survivor Advocates Program

Assist with reporting, monitoring, and evaluation

Assist with recruitment, promotion and selection of participants

Stay in close communication with program participants

Assist with design of curriculum and program plan

Assist with facilitation of sessions





Assist with development of partnerships

Support the coordination of the VAST Research and Knowledge Center

Assist with monitoring relevant literature, policies, training opportunities, and date related to VAST’s work

Perform other duties as requested

Arrange Clients’ participation in the groups ‍ Community Engagement Provide training on how to work with the database and VAST tools for new volunteers, practicum students, and staff members

Support VAST Business Whatsapp

Work with the Community Engagement workers and Volunteers to Schedule and supervise the Community Kitchen and other VAST activity events

Participate in the support groups if needed

Participate in staff meetings and workshops

Provide support for other VAST programs like Outdoors activities, if needed

Provides general support to the office

Facilitate workshops on refugee mental health for legal, health, social, and settlement service providers ‍ Advocacy Coordinate the annual policy goals and strategies with the Executive Director, Development and Research Coordinator, Clinical Supervisor, and Social Worker

Support the VAST Annual Symposium on Torture

Coordinate action to advance VAST’s policy mandate through:

Supporting with preparing written communications including emails, briefs, letters, budget submissions, website texts, and newsletter submissions;

Promoting VAST’s policy priorities through direct government and media relations, in coordination with the Executive Director

Providing operational support for advocacy coalitions, campaigns, and working groups advancing social change, including MAP, Alternatives to Detention, CNSTT, IRCT, United Nations, and others

Networking and building relationships with a wide variety of other partners

Support Team Member Network and working group activities, including collaborating with other staff members

Build capacity for public policy advocacy through public engagement and community education opportunities, such as facilitating workshops or meetings

Help track and demonstrate impact of the policy and advocacy goals, and building connections and power to make change

Support to Track and analyze policy related to torture, forced migration, and mental health (statutory, regulatory, and budgetary policy).

Support to Prepare, edit, and disseminate digestible summaries, infographics, and other communications.

Attend meetings and workshops, take excellent notes, form relationships with key organizations and individuals, and drive follow up on action items.

Generate excitement and enthusiasm for advocacy among member agencies.

Plan and coordinate advocacy days like World Refugee Day

Coordinate content and materials for member and partner meetings

Support to Conduct research to support advocacy and communications efforts.

Collaborate and align activities with colleagues across departments

Perform other duties as requested

Qualifications Significant Cross-cultural experience

Previous work with trauma

Advocacy, grassroots organizing, and/or social change campaigns

Awareness of Politics and current events

Commitment to anti-racism and equity

Strong follow up and organizational skills, detail oriented

Analytical and strategic thinker. Excellent writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.

Knowledge of the refugee and refugee claimant process & systems

Able to work successfully in a virtual environment

Confident user of Google services, Confident user of CRM systems

Ability to work virtually

Ability to work with interpreters

Preference given to candidates with some bilingual capability and some bi-cultural background or life experience

📌 Advocacy and Community Engagement Coordinator (Vancouver)
🏢 VAST_BC
📍 Vancouver