Health Equity Assistant

Health Equity Assistant

Job Type: Fixed-Term Contract (35 hours/week)
Contract Duration: July 6 – August 28, 2026 (8 weeks - Canada Summer Jobs Position)
Compensation: $18/hour
Work Model: Hybrid (remote work with one day in office per week and required in-person meetings, events, and occasional travel within the GTA)

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada and meet Canada Summer Jobs eligibility requirements.
Travel Requirements: Occasional local travel may be required to support outreach activities, consultations, workshops, and event coordination. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with CASSA policies.

Reporting to: Project Manager, Health Equity and Promotions

Application Requirements: Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in health equity, community engagement, research, and event planning. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM (ET) on [June 22, 2026].

Organizational Overview

The Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) is a social justice registered charitable organization serving South Asian communities across Canada through advocacy, research, capacity building, policy development, and training. CASSA is an umbrella organization of more than 120 member agencies serving diverse South Asian communities.

Our work focuses on marginalized, underprivileged, and disenfranchised populations including women, youth, seniors, newcomers, low-income communities, people with disabilities.

CASSA understands and embraces the diversity of the South Asian diaspora and approaches all work through the lenses of community empowerment, racial equity, gender equity, and anti-oppression.

Project Overview

CASSA is seeking a Health Equity Assistant to support two key health equity initiatives:

1. Health Equity Summit

CASSA's annual Health Equity Summit brings together healthcare providers, researchers, community organizations, policymakers, and community members to address health disparities experienced by marginalized and racialized communities, particularly South Asian communities. The Summit serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the development of community-informed solutions to health inequities.

2. Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Project

This community-based research project examines the discrimination and prejudice experienced by newcomer South Asian women and gender-diverse individuals when accessing maternal, sexual, and reproductive health services in Canada. The project aims to identify barriers to care, amplify community voices, and support the development of culturally responsive recommendations for healthcare providers and systems.

The Health Equity Assistant will support research, outreach, communications, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge mobilization activities related to both initiatives.

Job Responsibilities

Health Equity Summit Support

• Assist with planning and coordination of CASSA's annual Health Equity Summit.
• Support speaker recruitment, scheduling, and communication.
• Conduct outreach to healthcare providers, researchers, community organizations, and community leaders.
• Assist with registration management and attendee communications.
• Support the development of event materials, including presentations, agendas, promotional materials, and participant packages.
• Coordinate logistics for virtual and in-person meetings related to the Summit.
• Support event-day operations and post-event follow-up activities.
• Assist with collecting participant feedback and evaluation data.

Research Project Support

• Support outreach and recruitment of newcomer South Asian women, healthcare providers, and subject matter experts for consultations and focus groups.
• Assist in analysing demographic surveys and community feedback tools.
• Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans related to sexual and reproductive health, health equity, and newcomer experiences.
• Support qualitative and quantitative data collection activities.
• Assist with organizing and maintaining research files, databases, and participant records.
• Support the preparation of research summaries, reports, presentations, and knowledge mobilization materials.

Communications and Knowledge Mobilization

• Create health promotion and awareness content for social media, newsletters, and CASSA's website.
• Develop infographics and other visual materials to communicate research findings and health equity issues.
• Support community outreach campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of health equity and sexual and reproductive health issues.
• Assist with the dissemination of project findings to community stakeholders and partners.

General Duties

• Participate in team meetings and project planning activities.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope of the role and project objectives.

Key Qualifications

Required

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a post-secondary program in Public Health, Health Studies, Social Sciences, Women's and Gender Studies, Community Development, Social Work, Health Promotion, or a related field.
• Strong interest in health equity, community-based research, and social justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Assets

• Experience supporting community engagement, outreach, research, or event planning activities.
• Knowledge of South Asian communities and newcomer settlement experiences.
• Experience creating social media content, infographics, or promotional materials using Canva or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of health equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, intersectionality, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Ability to speak a South Asian language is considered an asset.
  

What You Will Gain

Through this position, the successful candidate will gain practical experience in:

• Community-based health research
• Health equity and public health initiatives
• Stakeholder and community engagement
• Event planning and coordination
• Knowledge mobilization and public awareness campaigns
• Communications and social media strategy
• Data collection and analysis
• Working within a national social justice and community-based organization

The successful candidate will receive ongoing mentorship, professional development opportunities, and exposure to healthcare, research, policy, and community sectors.

Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM (ET) on [June 22, 2026]. Please use .docx, .xlsx or .pdf file types. Email applications will not be accepted. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: CASSA is committed to the principles of employment equity. We actively seek submissions from racialized and Indigenous communities with demonstrated skills and knowledge to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in a non-profit organization. As an organization that is committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression, our work is strengthened by the input of people who have faced systemic barriers and who carry the knowledge of lived experience.

We encourage applications from individuals with lived experience relevant to the communities we serve.