Indigenous Wellness Counsellor

OCAD University; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading university in Toronto is seeking an Indigenous Wellness Counsellor to support Indigenous students' well-being through culturally appropriate counselling and workshops. The role involves crisis intervention, collaboration with community partners, and participation in student wellness initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ experience in counselling in community health settings.
• Experience engaging with Indigenous communities in mental health contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal, crisis, and short-term counselling based on Indigenous frameworks.
• Collaborate with community partners and maintain knowledge of university policies.

Skills

Counselling

Crisis Intervention

Advocacy

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Post-secondary degree in Social Work

Masters level education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg, and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand, and create.

The Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) offers a welcoming environment with a wide range of specialized services to support the academic, cultural, social, and emotional well-being of Indigenous students at OCAD University. The ISC is a culturally activated space where students can meet, study, or relax between classes. We host weekly events, guest lectures, workshops, visiting artists, field trips, and extracurricular activities supporting Indigenous visual arts and culture.

Reporting to the Manager, Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), the Indigenous Wellness Counsellor provides holistic, culturally appropriate services, supporting Indigenous student wellness through one-to-one counselling, group activities, and workshops focused on the well-being of Indigenous students at OCAD U. The Indigenous Wellness Counsellor is situated in the ISC and supported by OCAD U’s Student Wellness Centre. They deliver personal, crisis, and short-term counselling and guidance to Indigenous students, supporting culturally relevant, experiential learning opportunities through the ISC, aimed at fostering the cultural, social, and emotional success of Indigenous students.

Summary of Responsibilities :

1. Implement client-centred, trauma-informed strategies to support Indigenous students’ wellness, aligned with students’ self-determined goals.
2. Provide personal, crisis, and short-term counselling based on an Indigenous holistic framework and other therapeutic or theoretical frameworks.
3. Assist clients in identifying and addressing socio-emotional, mental health, and interpersonal challenges affecting their academic success and well-being.
4. Collaborate with Visiting Elders to support Indigenous students as needed or requested.
5. Participate in relevant internal and external consultation meetings to support the work of the ISC, Indigenous OCAD U, and the broader university community.
6. Maintain knowledge of university policies and procedures related to supporting Indigenous students and provide internal referrals as needed.
7. Contribute to policy and process reviews in collaboration with Indigenous campus stakeholders.
8. Develop relationships with community partners and resources (e.g., Student Wellness Centre, Financial Aid & Awards, Student Advising, Safety Security & Campus Operations, Indigenous health organizations) and facilitate referrals to health professionals as needed.
9. Respond to crises or emergencies under supervision, with support from the Manager, ISC and Student Wellness Centre.
10. Review and adjust support plans, including crisis interventions, based on student needs and in consultation with relevant teams and community supports.
11. Complete timely documentation according to policies and regulations.
12. Attend weekly ISC meetings and liaise with SWC staff regarding counselling, case management, professional development, and crisis management.
13. Assess and recommend accommodations in collaboration with Student Accessibility Services.
14. Support ISC programming, events, and workshops; participate in after-hours activities as needed.
15. Assist the Manager, ISC, with other duties to ensure the centre’s successful operation.

Qualifications :

1. Minimum of five years’ experience in group and individual counselling in community health/mental health settings, including advocacy, case management, harm reduction, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention.
2. Post-secondary degree or diploma in Social Work, Social Service Work, Child and Youth Worker, Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health, or Addiction; equivalent education and lived experience considered.
3. Masters level education or registration with a regulatory body in Ontario is an asset.
4. Experience engaging with Indigenous communities within mental health contexts.
5. Understanding of Indigenous issues, including intergenerational and colonial trauma, and challenges faced by Indigenous students in post-secondary education.
6. Knowledge of Indigenous cultural practices, traditional teachings, and protocols for working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
7. Respect for diversity and ability to understand intersecting issues related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, race/ethnicity, immigration, religion, and Indigenous heritage.
8. Ability to recognize mental health challenges and make appropriate referrals, with outreach as needed.
9. Discretion and judgment in handling confidential matters and responding to crises.
10. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
11. Commitment to equity and diversity principles, fostering respectful environments for students, staff, and faculty.
12. Ability to work collaboratively and independently, demonstrating initiative.
13. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to respond to diverse stakeholder needs.
14. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Compensation :

Hiring Range - $36.77 to $42.16 per hour, plus 4% vacation pay and 7% in lieu of benefits; Salary Range - $36.77 to $48.33 per hour.

Hours of Work :

Monday to Friday, 21 hours per week. This is a temporary, part-time, one-year contract. The incumbent is expected to report to work on campus.

Application Requirements :

The successful candidate must be an Indigenous citizen with a connection to an Indigenous community (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) and demonstrate a commitment to Indigenous community development and decolonization efforts. Candidates should include information about their Indigenous citizenship and relevant community experience in their cover letter.