Student Wellness Support Specialist

 

Athabasca University's Learner Support Services Department is currently recruiting for the position of Student Wellness Support Specialist.

 

Please note this is a temporary full-time (1.0 FTE) position starting July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

 

The Position:

The student Wellness Support Specialist works collaboratively with colleagues within Learner Support Services, and across AU to provide support to students seeking support with well-being and mental health. This includes students who self-refer and students who have been referred by members of the university community. This position provides first line mental health consultation and support to students and assesses students presenting with mental health and wellness issues to ensure appropriate referral pathways to relevant internal and external resources.  The incumbent will serve as a consultant for staff and faculty who are concerned about students, or who need advice on how to best support students. Examples would include students who are transitioning to university, experiencing cultural transition issues, are isolated within their own communities, and those who may be displaying at-risk behaviour. This position requires currency in student service research and practice as well as experience with wellbeing, mental health issues, and risk intervention models.

 

**Please note: This position at AU is an approved for a Virtual – Alberta. The successful candidate for this role and all related functions for employment must reside in the province of Alberta but can be performed in a virtual environment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Health Promotion, Public Health, or Nursing.
• Maintenance of professional registration is required (RSW, RN, RPN, etc.).
• Minimum 3 years experience working in mental health.
• One or more years' experience in a post-secondary education setting is required.
• Experience with crisis intervention, suicide intervention training and at-risk behaviours.
• Self-motivated and self-directed with minimal need for direct supervision.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated strong regard for issues of confidentiality and dealing with highly sensitive material.
• Proven ability and commitment to work effectively with multiple departments and people in sensitive and complex situations.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to model these skills to students and staff.
• Familiarity and competency with appropriate technologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of the cultural knowledge and perspective required to connect with students from diverse communities.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

 

A detailed job description can be viewed at: Student Wellness Support Specialist

For further information regarding this position, please contact Serita Smith, Director, Learner Support Services, at [email protected] 
 

 

 

Athabasca First

Wherever possible, AU seeks to attract and hire qualified team members to reside in the region. We will offer relocation assistance for the right candidate should you decide to relocate the Town of Athabasca. As a resident of the town or county of Athabasca, you can choose to work on and from our beautiful campus in Athabasca.

To discover the Town and Region of Athabasca, go to: Visit Athabasca.

What AU Offers: 

Benefits and Pension eligibility differs based on employee group and may include:

• Defined Benefits Pension Plan
• Alberta Health Care
• Extended Health Care
• Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Vacation
• Office Closure between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Discretionary Benefit Fund
• AU Course Allowance
• A Variety of Leaves (e.g., Maternity/Parental/Adoption, Compassionate Care, etc.)
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Educational credentials will be verified before an offer of employment is extended. An offer of employment is conditional upon verification of educational credentials. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. 

Athabasca University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, persons of any gender identity and expression, and members of visible minorities. 

Where applicants have equal skills, abilities, and experience, candidates residing within or willing to relocate to the County of Athabasca will be given preference.

Working outside of Canada is not supported by Athabasca University. You are legally not permitted to work for Athabasca University if you are living outside of Canada.