Volunteer Opportunity - Unpaid Practicum Position, Metis Public Health Surveillance Program

Metis Nation British Columbia and B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer are seeking an energetic, culturally safe and humble, Metis student who is capable of filling an unpaid practicum position to assist the Metis Public Health Surveillance Program’s development of a Metis perspective on wellness.

Candidates should be enrolled in a Master’s degree in Health Informatics, Health Administration, Public Health, Public Administration, or a related program in Canada. We will also consider fourth year students in a health science program that requires a practicum placement.

You will help MNBC-OPHO develop a Metis perspective on wellness through a combination of independent and group-based activities that could include:

• Conducting literature review and synthesis of existing literature on Metis perspectives on wellness

• Preparing grant applications and/or research applications to support robust Metis engagement to inform the Metis perspective on wellness

• Undertaking community-based participatory research activities to support development of a Metis perspective on wellness

To accomplish this work, you will use and develop the following skills: literature searching; quantitative and qualitative data analysis; grant and research applications; community-based participatory research methodologies; adhering to Metis data governance principles; adopting two-eyed seeing approaches; wellness-based approaches to population health reporting.

Learning outcomes for you include:

• Experience working with a provincial Metis body/provincial government partnership

• Knowledge of and contribution to the advancement of the Metis Public Health Surveillance Program

• Experience in implementing Metis data governance principles

• Experience in implementing two-eyed seeing approaches (upholding both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing and being)

• Experience in using wellness-based approaches to population health reporting

• Experience in the preparation of grant and research application forms

• Knowledge of Metis determinants of health and Metis population health issues

Compensation: This position is an unpaid practicum placement. The Office of Provincial Health Officer will provide office accommodation and equipment; mentoring; and a dynamic and friendly working environment. The student will be working at the OPHO in Victoria. Please note that students will be responsible for their travel/relocation and accommodation expenses.

Period of work: This practicum placement start and end dates are dependent upon program requirements and student availability, and could begin as early as January 2020. Incumbents may work full-time (7.25 hours/day; five days a week), however a part-time, longitudinal approach is also an option provided the requirements for their practicum placement are met.

Please send your CV, a cover letter and a letter of support from your academic supervisor to the Indigenous Health Physician Advisor at Daniele.behnsmith@gov.bc.ca. and cc MNBC’s Health Administrative Assistant Marcella William at mwilliams@mnbc.ca

Please note all applications will be reviewed, but only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

MNBC and the OPHO are committed to providing accommodations for people with disability in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. As required, please inform Dr. Daniele Behn Smith of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require to ensure your equal participation.