Indigenous Student Counsellor

COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

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We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

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Disclaimer: As part of the application process at Queen's University, our recruitment system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), as defined under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, to ask job-related questions and confirm eligibility for hire. All final hiring decisions are made using non-AI related processes.

Job Summary

A Brief Overview

The Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre (FDISC) exists to support the development and well-being of Indigenous students at Queen's University. In keeping with the teachings of the Four Directions, the Centre supports individual Indigenous students in balancing their academic, spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. Services offered include advising, counselling, Elder guidance, academic events, and cultural programming.

Reporting to the Director, Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre (FDISC), the Indigenous Student Counsellor will provide professional personal, crisis, and short-term counselling and advising services based on a holistic Indigenous Knowledge sharing model for Indigenous students at Queen's University. The Indigenous Student Counsellor is a professional counselling position with a significant focus on supporting Indigenous student wellness, cultural knowledge sharing, and student success. In provision of counselling services, the role receives clinical supervision from the Director, Counselling Services.

The purpose of the Indigenous Student Counsellor role within the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre (FDISC) is to help students develop their capacity to respectfully blend cultural, academic and professional knowledge throughout their learning journeys. The Indigenous Student Counsellor's presence is integral to the development and delivery of holistically based programming coordinated through the FDISC.

This position provides Indigenous based personal, crisis, and short-term counselling to the university's Indigenous students. This position focuses on supporting Indigenous student wellness, cultural knowledge sharing, and student success. This position works in partnership with the university and the local community to build a network of support services, and referral services for Indigenous students.

The schedule for this position requires the incumbent to work evenings and weekends.

Job Description

What you will do

• Provides personal, crisis, and short-term counselling, and guidance to students in underrepresented communities.


• Uses appropriate therapies that are matched to client needs, intervenes or refers where appropriate, and evaluates and recommends the need for short-term academic accommodations.


• Assists students to develop skills/awareness in areas such as interpersonal relationships, stress-reduction, management of emotions, and mental health.


• Works with faculty and staff on case management, professional development consultation, crisis management, and best practices and approaches regarding student behaviour issues.


• Conducts, provides guidance, and coordinates traditional and ceremonial events, programming, and activities.


• Promotes awareness building activities within the university.


• Provides consultative advice to university advisory groups.


• Works in partnership with the local community and university departments to build a strong network of support, and referral services for students.
• Conducts and/or provides guidance, and oversee traditional cleansing and ceremonial activities, including ceremonial apprenticeship.


• Liaise and coordinate with Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers for the provision of services specific to visiting Elders, and Traditional Teaching events.


• Work with FDISC staff to assist in the promotion of and awareness building around Indigenous cultural issues within the university.


• Work in partnership with the local Kingston community and support services to build a network of support services and referral services for Indigenous students, and students affiliated with FDISC.


• Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.

Required Education

• Master's Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires a professional designation, certification, or other qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.

Required Experience

• More than 5 years of experience.
• Registration with a regulatory college of Ontario (Psychology, Social Work, Psychotherapy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy) is required.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check required.


• Vulnerable Sector Screening required.

Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Knowledge and Requirements

• Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or significant work experience.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and consultation on highly complex issues and/or where the outcome may be contentious.


• Interaction with others requires highly developed interpersonal skills to effectively persuade, negotiate, counsel, and/or consult.
  


• Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.


• Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.


• Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.


• Lead team and project meetings and develop team/unit and departmental project plans.


• Lead procedural or technological change within a unit or across broader university functions.


• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.


• Anticipate complex challenges to ensure activities are completed on time.


• Effectively leverage relevant data as input to making decisions.


• Appropriately assess risks before making a decision.


• Comprehensive understanding of what sexual violence, harassment and discrimination are, and their varying effects on diverse members of the community.


• Question and take appropriate steps to address attitudes, macroaggressions and other behaviours which are discriminatory. Acknowledges and respects diverse cultural traditions, abilities and beliefs.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized persons, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to those who are legally eligible to work in Canada.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.