Career Opportunity
Internal/ External
Counsellor and Advocate, VAW
Full-Time
This job posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization.
It is the mission of Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) to broadly provide Inuit-specific programs that contribute to the health and wellbeing of Inuit and to encourage and support similar programs for Inuit across the country. TI has over 30 years of highly successful experience in crafting the design, development, and delivery of a wide range of effective, client-centered services. By incorporating the principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), TI continues to deliver quality programs and services that directly benefit our growing urban Inuit population.
The VAW Counsellor and Advocate is responsible for providing community-based, culturally specific, counselling, support, and referral services for Inuit women aged 16 years and older who identify themselves as having been sexually, physically, or emotionally abused by their partners or significant others. TI’s VAW Counselling program assists Inuit women, and their dependents, who have experienced violence to heal and reclaim their safety and empower them in their various roles, including that of caregiver. The VAW Counsellor and Advocate provide individual and group counselling; supports women to understand their rights; safety planning; violence prevention measures; assist caregivers in supporting their children to heal from the effects of witnessing violence; and assists and advocates for women and their dependents regarding their health, safety, and well-being.
Responsibilities:
- With support from the Manager of Family Well‐being, coordination of all aspects of the program, including operationalizing annual objectives and work plans in keeping with Inuit culture, language, and tradition.
- Provide counselling in efforts to mitigate social determinants of health, and to help resolve other social and personal obstacles.
- Advocating within the criminal and family court systems as required.
- Assist clients with external resources such as social service support (legal, financial aid, social assistance, etc.), housing support, medical treatment, addiction treatment, etc.
- Assist clients with internal resources such as food security, housing, addiction treatment, CAS consultation services, etc.
- Delivery of workshops and activities through a cultural lens, responding to the varying needs of families (such as health, risk factors and nutrition).
- Assess clients’ physical and mental wellbeing, helping clients achieve autonomy, and coordinating and providing safe, timely services to clients.
- Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine the level of need and acuity.
- Case conference with internal and external stakeholders to ensure clients’ needs are being serviced appropriately (doctors, lawyers, etc.)
- General case management (assist in obtaining identification papers, medical coverage, and non-insured health benefits, etc.).
- Work with clients who have concurrent disorders, and complex mental health needs/disorders by providing a trauma-informed anti-oppression feminist approach to services.
- Work collaboratively with other TI programs
- Provide client-centered crisis support/counselling to assist women seeking urgent services.
- Short-term, goal-focused, non-judgmental, and supportive counselling for women in the community.
- Develop comprehensive and concrete safety plans with women and their dependents that is reflective of the woman’s immediate personal circumstances, needs, and choices. Safety plans will identify the steps a woman and her children can take to increase their safety and help to prepare them for the possibility of further violence. Plans will include, but not be limited to:
- Emergency escape plans for various situations
- A list of emergency and resource numbers
- A list of items to be stored in a safe place
- Provide information on rights, options, and available services.
- Develop, plan, organize, and facilitate group sessions – work in conjunction with Elders to provide Women’s Healing Circles.
- Ensure appropriate communication and consultation with the manager, team members, and subject matter experts at appropriate times.
- Develop and maintain accurate, secure, and up-to-date client files in the appropriate electronic system, including timely case notes.
- Prepare and deliver reports as required.
- Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports with statistics as needed.
- Prepare and submit mileage claims, petty cash reconciliations, expense claims, and other relevant financial documentation.
- Become familiar with and comply with all of TI’s policies and procedures; and
- Any other duties assigned to you as may reasonably be required in line with the Position’s main responsibilities.
Education, Qualifications and Skills:
- Post-secondary education in Indigenous studies, humanities, or social sciences.
- At least one year of practical and relevant experience, preferably in a coordination/facilitator role.
- Experiences with various modes of displaying information (PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Zoom, etc.).
- Experience working with Inuit, communities, and organizations.
- Experience coordinating meetings, events, and other community engagement activities.
- Experience with group facilitation and community engagement.
- Knowledgeable in ordering supplies and coordinating deliveries.
- Able to create and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships.
- Excellent attention to detail, writing skills (grammar, style, etc.), interpersonal and communication skills, organizational skills.
- Able to work effectively in a team environment and independently.
- Knowledge of the Inuit culture, values, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and traditional practices.
- Familiarity with issues facing Inuit families.
- Fluency in English required, fluency in Inuktitut is an asset.
- Proficient use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, video-conferencing platforms;
- Ability to develop and deliver programming.
- Demonstrate positive leadership qualities and potential.
- Proven track record of dependability and reliability.
- Commitment to a client-centered approach when working with Inuit.
- Driver’s license and own reliable vehicle is an asset.
- Proven ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural team environment
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
**Acceptable combinations of education and experience may be considered for this position. We encourage you to apply if you have equivalent years of education and/or experience equal to the education and experience requirements listed above. ***
Salary and Benefits
- Salary range is $52,000 to $54,300Annually
- TI provides paid sickness, personal and family sickness leave days, and a 24/7 confidential Employee and Family Assistance Plan.
- Vacation (earn 3 weeks/year).
The deadline for applications is September 15th, 2026.
PLEASE CLICK ON **APPLY NOW** TO SUBMIT YOUR RESUME.
Preference in hiring will be given to qualified Inuit candidates; applicants are encouraged to self-identify. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit our website at www.tiontario.ca to learn more about our programs and services. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact
[email protected].
The Counsellor and Advocate, VAW works out of 282 Dupuis Street, Ottawa, ON (main location) and designated locations within the Ottawa region.
We thank all interested applicants in advance for their interest. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.
Hiring Process Disclaimer:
We do not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools to screen, assess, and/or select candidates. All applications and interviews are reviewed and conducted by qualified human hiring professionals.
