Brock University

Community Development & Equity Practice, 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 serves as a resource for all members of the Brock community—including students, staff, and faculty. HRE provides education, support, and advocacy on issues related to equity, diversity, human rights, harassment, and discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Our office advances equity through education, community development, and systemic advocacy, with a strong emphasis on student leadership, peer-to-peer engagement, and inclusive campus culture building. We collaborate across campus and the broader community to foster environments grounded in dignity, safety, and belonging.

Practicum Overview

The MSW Practicum Student (Community Development & Equity Practice) will gain hands-on experience in developing, facilitating, and evaluating community-based initiatives within a postsecondary setting. This placement provides an opportunity to strengthen social work competencies in group work, community engagement, workshop facilitation, and program design through an anti-oppressive, decolonial, and equity-focused lens.

The practicum student will work closely with the broader HRE team to support educational programming, community engagement initiatives, and the facilitation of supportive drop-in and group spaces for students.

Key Learning and Practice Areas

Community Development and Engagement

• Collaborate with campus and community partners to identify needs, co-design programming, and strengthen community connections.
• Participate in ongoing outreach, awareness campaigns, and information-sharing through tabling, pop-up events, and student engagement activities.
• Support the creation of welcoming and inclusive spaces for equity-deserving communities.

Group Work and Workshop Facilitation

• Design and co-facilitate small and large group workshops related to equity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Support group-based interventions such as peer discussion circles, community care spaces, or support groups held within the HRE drop-in environment.
• Apply social work principles of empowerment, advocacy, and reflective practice to group facilitation and evaluation.

Program and Event Planning

• Assist in organizing signature HRE events (e.g., International Women’s Day, Pride events, Black Student Symposium, and Days of Significance observances).
• Contribute to the creation of educational materials, workshop toolkits, and evaluation frameworks.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for event coordination, including communications, resource preparation, and participant engagement.

Equity Education and Research

• Engage in applied research on equity and inclusion topics to inform program development.
• Develop learning materials or reflection tools to support anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches in HRE’s educational programs.
• Contribute to ongoing assessment and reporting to measure program outcomes and impact.

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.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the placement, the practicum student will:

• Demonstrate applied skills in community engagement and group facilitation within an institutional equity context.
• Strengthen understanding of anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and decolonial social work practice.
• Gain practical experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Enhance capacity to integrate equity and social justice frameworks into professional social work practice.

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 practicum focus in community development, group work, or macro practice.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-oppression, and social justice education.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Experience (academic, volunteer, or professional) in facilitation, group work, or community engagement.
• Basic proficiency with online tools for education and outreach (e.g., Canva, social media platforms, Microsoft Office, or Google Suite).
• 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 (proposed)

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.