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AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi‐disciplinary community-based organization providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We take evidence‐based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all. At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. For more info see www.avi.org

AVI Health Centre is a Community Health Centre (CHC) in Nanaimo. We provide Primary Care, HIV, Substance Use, STBBI, PrEP, PEP, and HCV medical services, as well as outreach, supports, and social programming for our clients. We also provide education services for the communities we support and for health and social services students and professionals that work with the same communities. Our services are delivered across the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw'naw'as People.

Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

We provide support to, and work in solidarity with, people who have lived/living experience of HIV or hepatitis C, membership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and using criminalized substances. The Team is located on the territories of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and we acknowledge the ways in which colonization is inextricably linked to the topics we discuss. The disproportionate impact of criminalization, the war on people who use drugs, the overdose crisis, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS on Indigenous communities is a direct and intentional result of the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Health Promotion Educator provides programming, education, and support relating to: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, STIs, substance use, harm reduction, sexual and gender diversity, sexual decision-making, testing, treatment, and prevention strategies as a means of increasing community awareness and wellness, and reducing the further incidence of STBBIs. This includes assisting with co-facilitation, education, outreach, and other health promotion/community development work as needed.

The Nanaimo Education Team’s work currently is focused on education for 3 groups: queer men; 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and health & social service providers. This position will mainly support our work with folks in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and service providers. Although not likely in the near future, the hours for this position may eventually be reduced, upon return of the incumbent to their full hours.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. In consultation with the Health Promotion Team Lead, peer educators, and program participants, the Health Promotion Educator facilitates the design, implementation, delivery and evaluation of educational workshops, projects, and events related to HIV, HCV, other STI’s, gender, stigma, and homophobia.
2. Facilitates presentations and workshops to a diversity of queer communities, as well as service providers and post-secondary students.
3. Provides supervision, support, training, and mentorship to peer educators.
4. Provides education, information, support, and referrals via phone, email and drop-ins.
5. Maintains up-to-date and accurate knowledge of HIV, HCV and STI’s including prevention, transmission, treatment, and emerging trends, with particular focus on how it impacts the 2SLGBT+ community.
6. Assists with the design, production, and distribution of promotional material
7. Maintains and uses various social media platforms to engage with target populations, including: Grindr, Squirt, Facebook, Instagram
8. Provides support and education for 2SLGBTQI+ youth by attending SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) groups in local secondary schools, as well as offering professional development training to teachers
9. Works collaboratively with other AVI staff as well as community partners to develop and implement relevant programs (e.g. PrEP testing nights)
10. Creates community building, support and educational programs/events for GBMSM
11. Liaises with other community organizations to maximize educational opportunities and services
12. Participates in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational activities as needed
13. Maintains files, stats and records related to all areas of the program, electronic and paper, and reports on program work
14. Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with HIV/AIDS, HCV and/or STI prevention and awareness and/or community development and support
2. Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and reliable vehicle required
3. Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
4. Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the 2SLGBT+ community
5. Experience developing, delivering, promoting and evaluating educational workshops
6. Demonstrated experience planning, promoting and launching public education and development activities and events, such as conferences, forums, and workshops
7. Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations

The successful candidate is someone who identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and is open to discussing the expertise that their lived/living experience has given them within their work. They are someone who embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, and is supportive and empathetic. They uphold AVI’s harm reduction, social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility values with staff and people accessing our services. They support and ensure that the Education Team promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Being a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
2. Experience working in solidarity with, and providing education to, people who have lived experience related to living with HIV or hepatitis C; racialized oppression; membership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community; sex work; using criminalized substances (in community and/or professionally)
3. Experience working within harm reduction, HIV, hepatitis C, STI and/or overdose prevention and awareness
4. Demonstrated experience facilitating workshops and/or education initiatives
5. Thorough knowledge and understanding of HIV, hepatitis C, harm reduction, substance use and sexual health, or related facets of wellness that includes an intersectional perspective (i.e. acknowledges such factors as poverty, racialization, gendered oppression, etc.)
6. Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and practices, including harm reduction, anti-racism, decolonization, combating stigma related to drug use, HIV, hepatitis C, and challenging gendered oppression, ableism, classism, homophobia and transphobia
7. Good working knowledge of local health and social services
8. Valid Class 5 BC Drivers’ Licence and access to a vehicle, a requirement
9. Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations (i.e. outstanding charges and convictions for physical or sexual abuse)

POSITION DETAILS:

• Pay: $30.20/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 31)
• Hours and Schedule: 22.5 to 30 hours per week. The fixed schedule is yet to be determined. Shifts may fall between Monday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and may include evenings and weekends
• Start and end date:As soon as possible and ending on return of incumbent
• Location: AVI Nanaimo office
• Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
• Position Type: Part Time
• Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
• Pension: If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
• Other Perks: This position gets 6.4% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

TO APPLY:

Please click on 'To apply' to send your resume and cover letter (optional). This posting is open until filled.

AVI is committed to equity and diversity, and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.

It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and/or have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.

We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.