Member, Victoria General Hospital Cultural Safety Steering Committee

Recognizing the legacy of trauma and health and social inequities caused by colonization and oppressive practices, the First Nations Health Authority and Island Health acknowledge that the current health system continues to cause harm through culturally unsafe care and systemic racism. The Cultural Safety Committees were created to provide a space for Indigenous community members and representatives, health authority staff, and health care and wellness professionals to come together to address cultural safety and humility within Island Health facilities. Patient members are needed; if this sounds like a good fit for you, join us!

Open to: Patient partners from Greater Victoria, Saanich & Western Communities

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health & First Nations Health Authority

Aim

The aim of this committee is to work together to create a culturally safe and humble health care system and for the First Nations Health Authority and Island Health to work collaboratively on addressing issues of shared priority: addressing racism and discrimination; upholding the concepts of cultural safety and cultural humility; embed the concepts of cultural safety and humility into the health system across all levels; focus on concrete actions to demonstrate cultural safety within acute care facilities; and ensure that local First Nations and Indigenous peoples priorities are driving the cultural safety and humility initiatives. Patient membership is essential to ensure that the group receives input from and reflects on the patient perspective.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

• Open to patient partners from: Greater Victoria, Saanich Peninsula and Western Communities
• Experience (personal or family) receiving acute care services
• Experience working in large groups
• Comfortable to share personal experiences, stories and reflections
• Connection with a First Nations community would be a benefit, but not essential

Please note: This opportunity is not open to patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health. The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner. If you have not attended an a Patient Voices Network orientation session but you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Kira Tozer

Logistics

Number of vacancies: 2 Date/Time: Four meetings per year, two hours each. The first one scheduled for November 19 from 1000 - 1400. Location: Victoria General Hospital Commitment: One-year term with option of extending as mutually agreed to by patient partner and co-chair.

Reimbursement

Pre-approved transportation & parking costs to attend meetings will be reimbursed by Island Health.

Background

Please see the  Cultural Safety Committees Regional Project Charter for additional background information.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Kira Tozer
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.888.4525
ktozer@bcpsqc.ca