Community Prevention Worker

Community Prevention Worker Location: Thunder Bay

Reports to: Thunder Bay Team Supervisor

Position type: 6 month contract (October 2026 - March 2027)

Salary range: $54,411- $57,750 annual salary (pro-rated for duration of the contract)

Organizational Summary The Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas) is an Indigenous-led organization committed to promoting and supporting healthy, thriving Indigenous communities through providing culturally grounded education and access to harm reduction to reduce the transmission of HIV and other STBBI in our communities. Oahas operates based on the principles of Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA), Meaningful Engagement of People living with HIV/AIDS (MEPA), “nothing about us without us”, Indigenous harm reduction, and respect for our cultural knowledges and teachings. These foundational principles guide all aspects of our relationships and work.

Organizational Values & Accountability Behaviours Oahas’ organizational values are: Autonomy and self-determination, Accessibility, Innovation, Justice, Connection, Accountability, Hope and Advocacy. Based on our organizational values, we have developed agency-wide accountability behaviours that are shared with all Oahas staff and used as part of our performance evaluation tools. These include engaging in the work using direct communication, kindness, generosity of spirit and respect.

Position Summary Community Prevention Workers provide culturally grounded STBBI & harm reduction education, one-to-one service navigation supports, access to harm reduction supplies, linkages to STBBI testing and treatment, run drop-in programming, and facilitate cultural workshops and educational groups for community.

Community Prevention Workers report to the Team Supervisor of the Program Site with the following areas of responsibilities: Harm Reduction, Community, and Education Programs and Services; Testing, Treatment & Linkage to Care; Administration – with particular emphasis on one-on-one and group program reporting and case file administration.

Key Responsibilities Harm Reduction, Community, and Education Programs and Services

Promote safer sex practices through a variety of methods, including educational activities and harm reduction supply distribution through outreach and drop-in services.

Participate in community events and gatherings and set-up displays and information booths.

Facilitate groups related to education, life skills, culture and wellness for community members with particular attention to Indigenous people living with, or at risk of acquiring, HIV, HCV and STBBI. This includes engaging with Indigenous people who use drugs, engage in sex work, those who have been incarcerated and/or those who are experiencing houselessness.

Advocate for quality of care, non-judgmental and non-stigmatizing services for Indigenous people accessing health services related to the prevention, testing and treatment of STBBI.

Provide education to service providers on addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health care, HIV & HCV basics as it relates to prevention, testing and treatment, and Indigenous harm reduction.

Collaborate locally and regionally and create partnerships to improve services and access to care for Indigenous peoples.

Engage peers and volunteers with lived and living experience to assist in creating harm reduction kits, provide training to peers, and work together to distribute harm reduction supplies to community members.

Work closely with other Oahas staff and community partners to provide services for community members affected by and/or at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS, HCV and STBBI through sex and/or substance use. Make sure to attend on-going training and information sessions so staff remain current on the research and wise practices related to Indigenous people and STBBI.

Support community members when accessing Oahas Drop-in services, including maintaining a safe and welcoming space, relationship building and active engagement with individuals, providing practical supports as available, providing harm reduction gear, preparing and serving food as available, delivering programming as determined by the team, cleaning and sanitizing the space, engaging in conflict resolution and crisis intervention as needed, and connecting people to external services and supports as requested.

Testing, Treatment & Linkage to Care

Provide testing services (and referrals) for community members affected by and/or at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS, HCV and STBBI through sex and/or substance use.

Provide supportive, culturally grounded pre and post-test counselling support.

Support people who might be in crisis to navigate medical services as it relates to testing and/or accessing PEP.

Provide support to Indigenous People Living with