Traditional Counsellor

**(Full Time, Limited-term contract ending 31 July 2025)**

**About Us**:
The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association is a non-profit organization that provides a diverse range of culturally safe and supportive services to Indigenous People residing in the Fraser Region. As a Friendship Center, we work to strengthen connections to culture, community and wellness and work from a decolonizing perspective. Our philosophy is to provide a culturally safe, collaborative wrap around model of care.

**About Surrey**:
The City of Surrey is one of 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. We are located on the Lower Mainland on the south side of the Fraser River and share a border with the United States of America. Surrey is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Salish Peoples, including

the qicəy (Katzie), qʷɑ:nƛən (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) land-based nations.

**Why FRAFCA**:

- Opportunity to work alongside cultural knowledge keepers & Elders
- Holistic, culturally safe, approaches to serving our clients and community
- Freedom to share and observe own cultural practices (i.e. smudging in the office)
- Access WorkBC Employers Training grants and other bursaries to fund training & other professional development
- Extended Health Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Travel) and Employee Assistance Plan after 3-months on continuous employment
- Paid vacation days (up to 25 days based on years of service)
- Offices located along main transportation routes (Main office closely location to the Skytrain station);
- Parking available on-site

**Positions Overview**:
The Traditional Counsellor plays a key role in planning, coordinating, and promoting FRAFCA’s health and wellness initiatives to support Indigenous community members affected both directly and indirectly by the 60’s Scoop. This role focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle and providing positive encouragement to individuals on their wellness journey.

The Traditional Counsellor works closely with the Clinical Counsellor, assisting with workshop development, managing schedules, and coordinating programs aimed at fostering healing and well-being. Through collaboration and dedication, this position is committed to creating positive outcomes for the community, helping members navigate their personal healing processes while contributing to the overall wellness of the Indigenous community.

**Job Duties and Responsibilities**:
1. **Health and Wellness Programming and Promotion**:

- Plan, and assist in development, and implement workshops and educational series for community members, with a focus on spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental health. These programs are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of 60’s members of the Indigenous community who have been directly or indirectly affected, fostering a culture of continuous learning and personal development within the organization.
- Coordinate and facilitate health, recreational, and fitness activities** for youth, promoting active lifestyles that contribute to their overall well-being.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle for community members, serving as a positive role model for clients demonstrating healthy behaviors and wellness practices.
- Stay informed about current wellness initiatives and activities, developing a network of resources and contacts to enhance and expand the organization’s wellness programs.
- Lead special wellness projects and initiatives as directed by the wellness manager, contributing to the organization's commitment to health and well-being.

2. **Client Support**:

- Support the development of individualized wellness plans for community members/clients.
- Using a trauma informed approach, support, motivate, and encourage youth with their wellness goals and objectives
- Troubleshoot with team members to mitigate challenges that arise with client support.

3. **Resource Utilization and Allocation**:

- Collaborate with the management team for effective program scheduling.
- Monitor program budget and assure appropriate expenditure of funds with detailed record keeping and reporting to the wellness manager.
- Develop creative program materials, such as a newsletter to communicate clearly and effectively to staff about the various wellness opportunities.
- Manage inventory of wellness supplies and materials.

4. **Track, Evaluate, and Report**:

- Gather and analyze data to evaluate program success with wellness initiatives
- Track participant attendance, feedback, and individual progress towards personal
- goals. Additionally, create reports that can help inform program development.
- Conduct ongoing program evaluation based on feedback to further enhance programs and services by FRAFCA.
- Publish workshop reports to the manager on a monthly basis.

5. **Collaborate with service partners and other professionals**:

- Coordinate activities, events, and session with wellness, program, and Regi