The Stopping the Violence Counselling program accepts a limited number of students each year who wish to complete their counselling or social work practicums at Atira Women’s Resource Society.

The program offers opportunities for students to work with women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver who are facing a variety of challenges, including violence and abuse, substance use issues, loneliness and lack of social connection, and struggles with mental wellness.  Students will have a chance to practice their skills in a variety of settings: one-on-one counselling sessions, group counselling sessions, receiving drop-ins, as well as in community outreach projects.

Please note students must commit to practicums for at least eight months, preferably one year.

Most practicum students at Atira learn support work skills in one of our many supported housing programs across the lower mainland. We accept as many students as we can accommodate who are a good fit with Atira’s mandate and values each semester.

This type of practicum offers opportunities for students to become for familiar with and sensitive to marginalized communities and the intersections of violence against women and children, and other challenges they face. Students practice their skills as social service professionals in a real-world environment using an anti-oppressive, harm-reduction framework.

Atira’s housing programs cover a broad range of supported housing, including transition homes, shelters, long-term housing, housing specifically for younger women, older women, women in recovery, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women, allowing students to determine which programs to pursue depending on their area of interest and experience.

The Legal Advocacy Program accepts volunteers throughout the year. Students generally assist us with: matching women with legal services available at Atira and elsewhere, coordinating our weekly legal clinics, administrative support and case support. Students will gain practical advocacy skills rooted in feminist and anti-oppressive values. Where possible we gear opportunities to volunteer interests and skills. Senior volunteers often provide mentorship to newcomers.

All of our students have the opportunity to make meaningful contribution to women’s access to justice needs. Meeting women’s need may be making women tea and being a good listener, preparing evidence for a hearing, drafting an affidavit, disseminating legal information, providing referrals, accompanying a woman to a meeting or Court or researching legal remedies for a case.

Opportunities are well suited to women with an interest in pursuing a legal career, developing legal advocacy skills, and / or wanting to use their skills to make a difference for women. Current and past students and volunteers include: undergraduate students in various disciplines, paralegals, legal assistants, law students, law graduates, lawyers and women with lived experience.