Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) – Atlantic Region, BIPOC Student Internship Position
Job title: Student Intern
Purpose: The PHAC Atlantic Public Health Programs Unit (PHPU) is seeking a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour) student to support the PHPU team’s public health work, specifically in the areas of harm reduction and sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) prevention. This position can take place in the fall (September 2024) or winter (January 2025) internship/co-op terms.
Contact information:
Supervisor: Responsible Manager:
Phoebe Owen Donna Malone
Senior Program Officer, PHPU Senior Program Manager, PHPU
PHAC Atlantic, Halifax Office PHAC Atlantic, Halifax Office
phoebe.owen@phac-aspc.gc.ca, 782-640-2183 donna.malone@phac-aspc.gc.ca, 902-401-7091
Work locations:
• In-person 3 days/week at Halifax office: 1505 Barrington Street, suite 1525, Halifax NS
• Remote (work-from-home) 2 days/week
Educational eligibility requirements:
The student must be enrolled full-time (this includes students with a visible or invisible disability who are deemed to have full-time status by their academic institution) in a post-secondary co-op or internship program that is on the Government of Canada’s list of validated institutions and programs. The work term or internship must be an academic requirement, as determined by the student’s academic institution. Possible relevant and eligible programs include:
• Dalhousie University: Bachelor of Health Sciences (Health Promotion), Bachelor of Social Sciences
(Social Work), Masters of Social Sciences (Social Work)
• Cape Breton University: Bachelor’s of Health Sciences (Public Health), BA (Anthropology and Sociology),
BA (Indigenous Studies), BA (Political Science), BA (Psychology)
Language requirement: English
Hours per week: 37.5 hours
Rate of pay: rates of pay for post-secondary students start at $18.42 / hr for undergraduate students For the current rates of pay, as determined by academic level, see Student rates of pay – Effective May 1, 2024.
Students will be employed according to the Directive on Terms and Conditions of Employment for Students.
Duration of employment:
• Fall: Sept-Dec 2024 term (exact start/end date TBD, based on student’s program requirements)
OR
• Winter: Jan-Apr 2025 term (exact start/end date TBD, based on student’s program requirements)
To enquire for further details or to apply, please contact Phoebe Owen at phoebe.owen@phac-aspc.gc.ca
(please also cc Donna Malone, donna.malone@phac-aspc.gc.ca) and include a copy of your resume.
Job Details:
The Student Intern will work with the PHAC Atlantic Public Health Programs Unit (PHPU) to support activities that aim to address health inequities experienced by people who are vulnerable or marginalized by systems. This includes people who are racialized, Indigenous peoples, Black and African Nova Scotian peoples, people who use substances, women and gender diverse individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people living with HIV, and intersecting identities within all these communities.
Examples of work activities may include:
• Support the delivery of educational presentations on harm reduction and STBBIs to internal staff
• Review the recently renewed Government of Canada’s Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections(STBBI) Action Plan 2024-2030 to provide an analysis of what is relevant for stakeholders in the Atlantic provinces (community organizations, health authorities, etc.) or for the PHAC Atlantic PHPU team in supporting the Action Plan priorities
• Design (low-tech, using a Canva template for example) and populate content for a simple infographic sharing results and success stories from Atlantic region harm reduction and STBBI projects, based on evaluation and performance measurement data collected via last year’s annual reports from community projects
• Attend meetings and contribute to the activities of various internal working groups and committees, such as the Indigenous Health Think Tank and the Atlantic Afrocentric Network
• Participation in other opportunities related to the student’s specific interests in public health.
The ideal candidate will have the following experiences, abilities, and knowledge:
• Lived experience as a BIPOC individual (this is an essential attribute)
• Strong oral and written communication skills (samples of writing will be requested as part of the hiring process)
• Strong critical thinking and analysis skills
• Keen understanding of the social/structural determinants of health (i.e. income, race / racism, gender, education, housing, access to food, etc.) and how social inequities result in poorer health outcomes for communities who are disadvantaged by these social/structural factors
• Knowledge of harm reduction approaches and philosophies and the stigma that impacts this work
• Knowledge of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) prevention work in community settings and the stigma that impacts this work and the populations who are disproportionately impacted by STBBIs
• Experience working or volunteering in a community or non-profit organization.
Additional details:
• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the job requirements.
• A computer and phone will be provided to the student for the duration of the position.
• Ability to travel within Atlantic Canada may be required