Wellbeing Champions Programs
At UBC, we know that wellbeing is foundational to our success as individuals, as a university, and as a community. And we know that our community members are great champions when it comes to creating an environment that supports wellbeing for all.
Our vision of becoming a health and wellbeing-promoting campus is one we are approaching collectively and collaboratively, supported by passionate Wellbeing Champions—students, faculty, and staff who are committed to helping UBC achieve this vision by helping to embed and promote wellbeing in their workplaces, learning environments, and portfolios.
Join us in creating and championing a health and wellbeing-promoting campus through these great Wellbeing Champion Programs.
Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador Program
This program is for: Faculty and Staff
The Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador (WWA) program is a pilot program that plays a key strategic role at UBC, supporting the Human Resources – Health, Wellbeing, & Benefits team in their effort to embed wellbeing and wellbeing practices within UBC workplaces. Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors (WWA), champion workplace wellbeing and support the overall enhancement of UBC workplaces.
The program aims to:
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- Empower staff and faculty to support wellbeing activities within UBC departments.
- Provide opportunities to build knowledge and apply learnings in the workplace.
- Support staff and faculty in their efforts to positively impact workplace wellbeing.
Graduate Student Wellbeing Ambassador Program
This program is for: Graduate Students at UBC Vancouver
Graduate school can be an exciting and challenging time. Some students may experience wellbeing challenges, including managing stress, navigating support, finding time for self-care (e.g. sleep, exercise, nutrition) and balancing personal and academic responsibilities. Peer support can be an important tool in helping students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. That’s where the UBC Graduate Student Wellbeing Ambassador program comes in!
The Graduate Student Wellbeing Ambassador (GSWA) program brings UBC Vancouver graduate students together to build knowledge and capacity for health and wellness peer support. Through the GSWA program, Graduate Student Wellbeing Ambassadors work with the Health Promotion & Education Unit and university collaborators to support and promote student health and wellbeing.
Key GSWA program goals include:
- Develop the capacity of graduate students to offer peer support to improve graduate student health and wellbeing.
- Support graduate students to be aware of and effectively use and share health and wellbeing resources.
- Facilitate conversations and knowledge-sharing opportunities related to enhancing graduate student health and wellbeing across campus.
- Build connections across graduate programs to share and develop peer wellbeing support practices.
- Communicate the GSWA role to your peers and department.
- Assist peers in need of help to identify, access, or effectively use student health and wellbeing services and resources (e.g. Counselling).
- Host a health and wellbeing activity or event for graduate student peers.
- Participate in a campus health promotion campaign.
- Collaborate on GSWA activities with the Graduate Program Officer or Advisor in your department (assistance for making introductions/connections with faculty/staff in student health and wellbeing roles in your department is available if needed.)
- Share feedback and information about graduate student health and wellbeing related needs with the GSWA program team upon request.
- Attend a 90 minute GSWA Orientation (date TBA).
- Attend 1-2 GSWA events (e.g. workshop; lunch-and-learn; working session).
- Optional attendance at GSWA community events and professional development opportunities scheduled throughout the term.
- Participate in the GSWA training modules on the program's Canvas site.
- Length of Term: up to one year (applications accepted on a rolling basis), with the option to continue the role in future terms.
- Time Commitment:
- 2-4 hours per month of work time. This will vary depending on the needs of the department and whether the GSWA participates in optional training or activities.
- Monthly meetings (second Tuesday of every month from 12 pm- 1 pm).
- Gain the confidence and skills to support fellow graduate students who may be experiencing health and wellbeing challenges.
- Increase your mental health literacy.
- Engage students in conversations about health and wellbeing and respond to questions.
- Learn about and share information about appropriate resources both on and off-campus.
- Connect with one another through a supportive network of fellow Ambassadors.
- Create a supportive campus environment for fellow graduate students.
To participate in the program, interested graduate students must be:
- Registered in a graduate or professional program.
- Available to attend a GSWA Orientation session and to enact the responsibilities of the role as outlined above.
- Available to attend GSWA monthly meetings.
- Passionate about health and wellbeing and desire to guide and support others in promoting student wellbeing.
- Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to learn and connect with others.
Applying and participating in the GSWA program with another student(s) in your department is welcomed, as the role may be enhanced through collaborating/sharing responsibilities with a peer.
Applications are now closed.