Volunteer Today!


Volunteer Today

Welcome! Every year we are inspired by the dedication and compassion of our volunteers. The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre would not be able to provide the services it does without the support and commitment of volunteers.

Volunteering at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre may mean providing support to recent survivors of sexual assault, helping out with administrative tasks, assisting with events, or developing policy. There are all sorts of volunteer opportunities with The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre; each demonstrates a commitment to support, empower, and advocate for women and trans individuals  who are survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse; and to work toward the prevention of sexual violence.


You can find more information about our volunteer roles below.
To register your interest and be notified when we are next recruiting for that role,
click the "Fill in an application" button on the top right side of the page. 

If you have further questions, you can email our Volunteer Coordinator
Riven (zi/hir/hirs w a sprinkling of he/him/his) 

at volunteercoor@vsac.ca

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre!

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Volunteer Roles

Sexual Assault Response Team - Volunteer Support Worker

Please let us know if or how we can make the application process more accessible to you.

Time Commitment:

~80 hours of training +  ~480 hours (or 3 shifts) on call a month for one year

**For white volunteers we also require a minimum of 3 additional unlearning white supremacy sessions- in addition to the 480 pager hours

Responsible to:

Volunteer Coordinator, Access Line Coordinator/Clinic Coordinator

Position open to:

Trans, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming people, and cis-women age 19+

To Apply:

https://bttr.im/9k3or

Application Deadline:

January 1st at noon EXTENDED

Policy Restrictions:

Applicants who have used VSAC services must be 1 year past last date of service at time of application. This position is not open to cis-men.
Other volunteer opportunities are available.

Positions available:

12

 

About SART

The purpose of SART is to provide survivors of recent sexualized assault with emotional support and information on the community resources available to them. This requires Support Worker volunteers to liaise with hospital and police staff (as requested by the survivor) to support the survivor in accessing the services of their choice. Support may be offered over the phone, or in person at Victoria General Hospital, any of the local police departments, or at the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic (operated by VSAC). The Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic is the only fully integrated sexualized assault clinic in western Canada, meaning that a survivor can access support, medical services, and police reporting all at the Clinic.

 

VSAC Mission Statement

The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention.  We are dedicated to supporting women and all Trans survivors of sexualized assault and childhood sexualized abuse through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.

 

Values of Victoria Sexual Assault Centre

  • Communicating in a direct, caring, confidential, and honest manner, showing respect, gentleness, acceptance, and celebration of each other in all our diversity
  • Each individual’s self-defined inner knowledge, empowerment, and right to dignity
  • A safe, accessible, and effective Centre where folks can engage in healing from sexualized violence
  • Social justice for all
  • Enacting an anti-oppressive framework, that acknowledges societal and systemic barriers and our own positions of power and dominance
  • Being transparent and accountable to the community regarding how and why our policies and practices are determined, enacted, and altered

COVID-19 Planning

Training will be delivered via a combination of in-person and Zoom sessions, and through self-paced online modules. The training cohort may be separated into two groups to make social distancing possible.

 

We will ask participants to engage in community care by taking a COVID test before all in person sessions if they can.

 

 Applicants will be updated as new safety information develops. 

 

SART Volunteer Support Worker Responsibilities

  • Provide an immediate support response at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre’s Clinic, the Victoria General Hospital and/or a police station to recent (0-30 days) survivors (all genders, 13+) of a sexualized assault, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
  • Provide phone support to sexualized assault survivors
  • Provide information regarding medical and forensic examination procedures
  • Provide information on options for reporting to police
  • Liaise and consult with the Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) and the police (if involved)
  • Provide information and support to family and friends of the survivor
  • Provide information on follow up support for survivor
  • Provide links to counselling and victim services at VSAC
  • For SART Volunteer Support Workers who are white it is your responsibility to take meaningful part in a monthly unlearning white supremacy group

 

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

 

  • Knowledge of the root causes of sexualized violence
  • Working knowledge of intersectional feminism
  • Demonstrated respect for survivors of sexualized assault
  • Ability to work comfortably with recent survivors of sexualized assault either in the hospital, clinic, or police station
  • Ability to liaise with various community partners including police and hospital staff
  • Ability to work both independently and part of a team
  • Proven communication skills
  • Strong ability to give and receive feedback
  • Time management skills
  • Strong problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, and diplomacy skills
  • Strong boundaries and self-awareness
  • Basic understanding of the complex emotional reactions of sexualized assault survivors
  • Flexibility to adapt in unpredictable situations
  • Confidence to advocate for the survivor, if necessary
  • Ability to listen compassionately and without judgement
  • Demonstrated self-care practices
  • To feel stable in your personal healing process
  • Can commit to 1.5 months of intensive training
  • Can commit to 3 shifts per month over 1 year after the completion of training

 

 

 

Working Conditions

SART includes team members from Forensic Nurse Examiners and all Police Detachments.  VSAC volunteers work both independently and as part of the team.  Work will take place at the VSAC Clinic, Hospital, Police Station or other community agency in mixed indoor environments.  Volunteers will provide emotional support over the phone from their home on a VSAC provided cell phone.  This position requires overnight shift work and being on call for between 8-16 hrs, carrying a pager. 

 

 

Supports for Volunteers
  •       All volunteers are provided with opportunities to learn somatic tools to support grounding and nervous system regulation
  •  All volunteers have access to online self care resources 
  • All volunteers have access to VSAC staff to debrief SART responses one on one
  • All volunteers have access to bi-monthly group debriefs and on going trainings
  • Gender Diverse/Trans+ Volunteers have the opportunity to join the Gender Diverse SART Committee, which is a space that meets approximately 3x a year to foster community; share their experiences, and provide feedback to make the program safer
  • Black, Indigenous, People of Colour Volunteers have the opportunity to join the BIPOC SART Committee, which is a space that meets approximately 3x a year to foster community; share their experiences, and provide feedback to make the program safer for racialized volunteers
  • VSAC offers some counselling for volunteers who have been negatively impacted by their volunteerism 

 

Benefits to Volunteer

 

  • Advanced communications training
  • Training grounded in social justice and trauma informed practice
  • Ongoing training events
  • Build community connections
  • Team building skills

 

  • Education on the intersectional root causes of sexualized violence

 

 

 

Training Provided

  • 1.5 months of twice a week intensive group training including ongoing evaluation and feedback
  • Ongoing trainings

 

Winter 2024 Training Schedule:

Friday February 2nd 4:30-8:30pm (zoom)

Sunday February 4th 10am-4:30pm (zoom)

Friday February 9th 4:30-8:30pm (zoom)

Sunday February 11th 10-4:30pm (in-person)

Friday February 16th 4:30-8:30pm (in-person)

Sunday February 18th 10am-4:30pm (in-person, 10-1:30 is for everyone, 1:30-4:30 for white and white passing folks)

February 19th-22nd  - one-on-one - you sign up for a date/time

Friday February 23rd 4:30-8:30pm (zoom)

Sunday February 25th 10am-4:30pm (in-person)

Sunday March 3rd 10-4:30pm (in-person)

 

Recruitment Timeline

Applications Open: October 15th-January 1st

Interviews: January 15th - 24th 

Successful applicants contacted: January  26th

 

 

 

Application Check-List

- Available for all training dates

- Completed application form, including resume, and references

- Can commit to volunteering with VSAC until April 2025

 

Please direct any questions or comments to Riven Gail (zi/hir/hirs and he/him/his), Volunteer Coordinator: volunteercoor@vsac.ca

Event Support Volunteer

VSAC relies on volunteers to support us in hosting
events throughout the year.

This includes: 

The Triathlon of Compassion

Victoria Pride

Tabling at Community Events

**Applications are open year round and training will be scheduled for the new year**

You must be age 19 or older to volunteer 

Event Support Volunteers will be required to complete a single training session which includes going over the VSAC mission, beliefs and values; a tour, our services, and what the role entails. As well as participating in a group discussion reflecting on power, privilege, and marginalization. We also require approximately 2 hours of training online, that goes over some foundations of consent and gender diversity.

Office Assistant

Please let us know if or how we can make the application process more accessible to you.

Time Commitment:

2 hours every 2 weeks an/or as needed/if available

Responsible to:

Volunteer Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, other staff as designated by tasks

Position open to:

Women, Trans, gender queer, Two Spirit, and gender non-conforming folks over the age of 19

To Apply:

https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/52e448a1-a922-432f-92f5-eb380a9c04e4/Gvi/711ee905-0e5e-4b5b-abdb-830aadf957e9/2

Application Deadline:

Ongoing (Training will be scheduled in the new year)

Policy Restrictions:

Applicants who have used VSAC services must be 1 year past last date of service at time of application. Other volunteer opportunities are available.

 

Purpose:

To assist staff in the day-to-day operations of the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre.

 

 

VSAC Mission Statement:

The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women and all Trans survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.

 

Responsibilities May Include:

  • Database entry
  • Assistance with fundraising projects and events
  • Helping staff with various administrative activities
  • Assistance with any photocopying and/or typing
  • Processing and sending out mail
  • Putting together resource packages
  • Craft projects

 

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

  • Ability to work effectively with others
  • Comfortable working independently
  • Computer skills
  • Comfortable with repetitive tasks

 

 

 

 

 

 

Training Provided:

  • Agency orientation
  • Position orientation
  • Power, Privilege, and Marginalization
  • Intro to Gender Diversity by TransCare BC
  • Training in Filemaker Pro and Raiser’s Edge as appropriate

 

Values of Victoria Sexual Assault Centre

  • Communicating in a direct, caring, confidential, and honest manner, showing respect, gentleness, acceptance, and celebration of each other in all our diversity
  • Each individual’s self-defined inner knowledge, empowerment, and right to dignity
  • A safe, accessible, and effective Centre where folks can engage in healing from sexualized violence
  • Social justice for all
  • Enacting an anti-oppressive framework, that acknowledges societal and systemic barriers and our own positions of power and dominance
  • Being transparent and accountable to the community regarding how and why our policies and practices are determined, enacted, and altered

 

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to  
Riven Gail, Volunteer Coordinator at volunteercoor@vsac.ca

Mission Statement

The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women and all trans survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.