Brock University, Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education, Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office

Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education, Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office, Brock University

Location: 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way | St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, St. Catharines Campus

Description of the practicum site and student activities:

About the Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office

The Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office at Brock University is a central resource supporting students, staff, and faculty in building a community grounded in dignity, inclusion, and respect. The office addresses human rights, harassment, and discrimination as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code, while providing education, advocacy, and support on issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and gender-based violence.

The Gender and Sexual Violence (GSV) Support and Education Team is a vital branch within HRE that leads the university’s efforts to prevent, address, and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. Through survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and intersectional approaches, the GSV team offers education, advocacy, and peer support that contribute to a safer and more inclusive campus.

Practicum Overview

This MSW practicum placement offers a unique opportunity to engage in trauma-informed community practice, gender-based violence prevention, and peer support program development within a post-secondary setting.

The MSW Practicum Student (Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education) will work closely with the Gender and Sexual Violence Education Coordinator and the broader HRE team to design and facilitate workshops, coordinate awareness initiatives, and provide peer-informed, survivor-centered support in drop-in spaces.

This placement provides a strong foundation in the application of social work principles of empowerment, advocacy, and community development within the field of gender-based violence prevention and response.

Key Learning and Practice Areas

Education and Workshop Facilitation

Develop, update, and co-facilitate workshops that build awareness and prevention strategies around gender and sexual violence (GSV).
Support delivery of consent training, bystander intervention, and equity-focused workshops to various student audiences, including residence life and student leadership groups.
Contribute to the creation of workshop materials, reflection tools, and evaluation frameworks.
Engage in ongoing reading, learning, and reflective supervision on trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practices.

Group and Drop-in Support

Co-facilitate and help lead survivor-centered drop-in spaces and peer support groups, providing emotional support grounded in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and intersectional social work values.
Participate in Men Against Violence, 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, BIPOC student support, and other GSV-related programming areas based on student interest.
Collaborate with HRE Advisors to connect students to appropriate on- and off-campus supports.

Community Development and Outreach

Assist in designing and delivering student-focused events that promote awareness, prevention, and healing around GSV.
Engage in outreach activities such as tabling, peer education campaigns, and awareness events (e.g., International Women’s Day, Pride, December 6 Commemoration).
Build partnerships with campus and community organizations to enhance pathways to care and collaborative prevention initiatives.

Research and Program Evaluation

Conduct applied research and environmental scans to inform GSV program development and resource creation.
Support data collection and reflective documentation for program evaluation, including workshop feedback and engagement tracking.
Contribute to knowledge translation efforts such as infographics, newsletters, and social media content focused on survivor advocacy and prevention education.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this practicum, the student will:

Demonstrate competence in trauma-informed, survivor-centered social work practice in an institutional setting.
Gain practical skills in facilitating groups, workshops, and community-based education.
Strengthen understanding of policy, advocacy, and prevention frameworks related to gender-based violence.
Develop confidence in providing peer-informed and community-based support using social work ethics and critical reflection.

Supervision and Support

The MSW practicum student will receive ongoing group supervision from the Associate Vice-President, and individual supervision from staff depending on interest and area of work. This will include opportunities for reflection, feedback, and professional development. Students will also participate in HRE’s team meetings, training sessions, and cross-unit learning opportunities.

Practicum Requirements:

☒ Comfort working with the population being served

☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation

☒ Lived experience/Current member of the community being served

Other requirements:

Qualifications:

Current enrollment in a Master of Social Work (MSW) program, with a focus in community practice, social justice, or trauma-informed care.
Demonstrated interest or experience in gender-based violence prevention, advocacy, or survivor support (through coursework, volunteering, or lived experience).
Understanding of anti-oppressive, intersectional, and decolonial approaches to social work.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with comfort in group facilitation and community engagement.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries and practice reflective supervision.
Candidates with lived experience as a member of an equity-deserving group (e.g., Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Disabled, survivor of GSV) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please select Fields(s) of Study:

☐ Social Justice and Diversity

☐ Mental Health and Health

☐ Human Services Management & Leadership

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

Experience (academic, volunteer, or professional) in facilitation, group work, or community engagement.

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

In-person only

Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?

Mixed practice

Number of practicums offered: 1

Field Instructor name and credentials: Chelsea Takalo, MSW

Application deadline: April 7, 2026

Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?

Resume and brief statement of interest

If you are interested in this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to alexi.sparaggis@utoronto.ca by 4pm on April 7, 2026. Applications will be sent to the site.