In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. 

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We facilitate the healing process for 2500 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution. VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT).

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Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 40 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor and trainer to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.

Role: Development Associate

This position is unionized under CUPE-1936.

‍Compensation: $27.29 per hour 30 hrs/week

‍Work Model: Hybrid

The VAST Development Associate is responsible for providing support for the VAST Fundraising team and the Finance department with their administrative tasks. Candidates should be able to assist management by handling various office tasks, and must be comfortable with computers, Google platform, general office tasks, and excel at both verbal and written communication. Candidates should also be able to work with Canada helps database, mailchimp newsletter outreach, revenue tracking, and build relationships with funders.

• Support the VAST fundraising team with administrative tasks
• Support with organizing files and folders in VAST Shared Google Drive
• Support with updating the fundraising spreadsheets with fundraising information
• Assist with designing spreadsheets to make the fundraising information more easily and efficiently accessible when needed
• Assist in tracking all fundraising activities and relationship development in VAST’s Fundraising spreadsheet and Canada Helps Donor Management System
• Support the Associate Director and the VAST Development & Research Manager with organizing the funding agreements, project budgets, and other fundraising documents
• Assist with preparation of letters to be sent to the VAST donors
• Assist with preparation and sending the LOI to potential Family Foundations, Corporate
• Assist in maintaining and cultivating relationships with existing donors
• Support with research and grant writing support as needed
• Assist with completing funding applications 
• Assist with updating VAST’s general letter of Introduction/Inquiry and Proposal Template
• Assist with coordinating with different VAST project leads and team members
• Support with VAST invoicing procedure
• Support VAST’s Associate Director with administrative and financial tasks as needed
• Support with organizing data and running reports in VAST’s Simple CTS account
• Support the Executive Director and the Associate Director with passwords &
• login access to key organizational accounts
• Support VAST’s social media presence and postings
• Support with writing and communications for VAST website, newsletter, publications, press releases, donors, and partners
• Participate in staff meetings and workshops
• Provide general support to the office
• Perform other duties as requested
• Additional language skills are helpful

1. Excellent computer skills, especially with Google Drive and Google platforms
2. Ability to work remotely and at our Vancouver office 
3. Able to interact safely and effectively with a vast variety of background of people