Health Promotion Educator- PT- ROI

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multidisciplinary communitybased 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 evidencebased 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

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 Stzuminus and Snawnawas People.

Join our supportive dedicated and clientcentred team in promoting the health dignity and wellbeing of all people affected by HIV HCV and substance use by delivering sexpositive and harm reductionbased 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 the 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 decisionmaking 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 cofacilitation education outreach and other health promotion/community development work as needed.

The Nanaimo Education Teams 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 STIs gender stigma and homophobia.
2. Facilitates presentations and workshops to a diversity of queer communities as well as service providers and postsecondary students.
3. Provides supervision support training and mentorship to peer educators.
4. Provides education information support and referrals via phone email and dropins.
5. Maintains uptodate and accurate knowledge of HIV HCV and STIs 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 Drivers 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 AVIs harm reduction social justice traumainformed 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 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 antiracism 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 Associationand 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 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.