SART and Volunteer Program Practicum Student

 

Victoria Sexual Assault Centre Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Practicum Student Outline
___________________________________________________________________________

 

What you’re looking for in a student experience, skill, characteristic-wise

  • Knowledge of group process and facilitation techniques
  • Willingness to learn and try new things
  • In-depth knowledge and demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding and root causes of sexualized violence
  • Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work effectively
  • Ability to empower survivors to make their own decisions
  • Ability to set clear boundaries concerning parameters of the supportive relationship
  • Knowledge of trauma-informed practice
  • Ability to manage crisis or emergency situations
  • 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
  • We welcome all qualified women, Trans, Gender-Diverse and Two-Spirit people to apply. 

 

Site/Organization overview (i.e. brief background, history, mission… etc.)

  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention. We are dedicated to supporting women, Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, through advocacy, counselling, and empowerment.
  • We started out in 1982 with two volunteers in a basement suite. Our vision was that survivors in Victoria would have a place to call, to get support, to reach out to. We’re still here with more than thirty staff and large volunteer team.
  • It is our mission to support, empower and advocate for women, Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. Regardless of when a survivor was assaulted, we are here to support them in the healing journey. We serve as a liaison between individuals affected by sexual violence, the justice and medical systems and community services.

 

Supervision (i.e. group, one-on-one, number a week)

  • One individual supervision session with supervisor once a week
  • One or more relevant meetings weekly
  • SART Training 2 sessions weekly until complete

SART/Volunteer Program Practicum Student Expectations

 

  • Participate in Sexual Assault Response Team Training
  • If possible, take SART shifts (overnights and weekends)
  • White Practicum Students can participate in our unlearning white supremacy group
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Practicum Students can participate in our BIPOC SART Committee
  • Gender Diverse Practicum Students can participate in our Gender Diverse SART Committee
  • Attend Community Events
  • Participate in supervision and organizational meetings
  • Plan and develop a special interest project 

 

 

 

Anything else important for the students and team to consider

  • VSAC has made a commitment to become more gender inclusive. This means that our services are open to women, Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse survivors of sexualized violence. Any woman; person who does not identify with the gender or sex they were assigned at birth, or individual who does not identify as either a “man” or a “woman” is welcome to use our services.
  • VSAC is taking action to respond to the Calls to Justice from the Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We are striving to be more inclusive of culturally diverse ways of healing and supporting Indigenous communities and clients accessing services at our Centre.
  • This practicum placement can be quite flexible and geared to your interests in the field, there will be a special project that will be on a topic of your choosing and involve sharing your knowledge with our SART Volunteer Support Workers. This allows the practicum student to focus on a topic of interest as well as develop and exercise their facilitation skills

 

 

 

 

 

 Practicum Student Applications

Interested applicants should fill out an application here:

Applications will open for fall 2025 practicum position until April 28th

And if you have any questions please reach out:

Riven Gail

Pronouns: zi/hir/hirs with a sprinkling of he/him/his

Volunteer Coordinator

Email: volunteercoor@vsac.ca