Volunteer & Staff Spotlight: Sylvie’s Journey with VSAC’s Sexual Assault Response Team

Discover how Sylvie’s journey as a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) volunteer highlights the importance of empathy, advocacy, and equitable care in supporting survivors.

At the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC), our volunteers are at the heart of the care and support we provide. Each person brings a unique perspective, a deep sense of compassion, and a shared commitment to supporting survivors in our community.

This month, we’re honoured to feature Sylvie, one of our dedicated Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) volunteers, whose experience reflects both personal growth and a strong commitment to advocacy and equitable care.

A Meaningful Experience Rooted in Community

Sylvie describes her time as a SART volunteer as incredibly meaningful—both in terms of the connections she’s built and the knowledge she’s gained.

“My experience as a SART volunteer has been incredibly meaningful. The training gave me a community of other volunteers and workers, full of people who care about supporting survivors and improving systems. It also expanded my understanding of the systemic failures and inequities that contribute to sexual violence, especially in Indigenous and marginalized communities. It’s made me more aware of how important trauma-informed, equitable care is, and has strengthened my commitment to being part of that kind of support system.”

Through training and on-call work, Sylvie has developed a deeper awareness of how systemic barriers shape survivors’ experiences—and how essential it is to approach care with both empathy and equity in mind.

Meet Sylvie

Sylvie is a second-year Biochemistry student at the University of Victoria, with plans to pursue a career in healthcare. Her academic and volunteer experiences are closely connected, both grounded in a passion for supporting vulnerable populations and improving access to care.

“A lot of my experiences volunteering have been centered around supporting vulnerable populations and creating safe, supportive environments. Through my work with the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre I’ve become passionate about advocacy of autonomy, and addressing systemic barriers that impact marginalized communities.”

Her academic interests focus on genetics, cancer, and women’s health within microbiology and biochemistry. She is particularly interested in how research and community-based work can intersect to improve equity, outcomes, and access to patient care.

Outside of her studies, Sylvie spends her time running, coaching, and working with children in sport. She also enjoys creative outlets like pottery and painting—practices that she feels shape how she shows up in her volunteer role with patience, care, and commitment.

What Supporting Survivors Means

For Sylvie, supporting survivors is grounded in empathy, respect, and autonomy.

“To me, supporting survivors means showing up with empathy, without judgment, and respecting their autonomy at every step. It’s about creating a space where they feel safe, believed, and in control of their choices.”

She emphasizes that meaningful support also requires an understanding of the broader systems that can fail survivors—and a commitment to being mindful of those realities in every interaction.

“Even just being present and listening can have a huge impact, and I think trust, respect, and validation are at the core of meaningful support.”

Learning Through Experience

One of the most impactful lessons Sylvie has gained through her volunteer work is the recognition of how difficult it can be for survivors to access support—particularly for those in marginalized communities.

“One of the most meaningful things I’ve learned is how often survivors face barriers when trying to access support, and how those barriers are even greater for marginalized communities. It really highlighted for me how important it is to approach care with an awareness of those systemic issues.”

She also reflects on a powerful shift in perspective: that supporting someone is not about fixing their experience, but about meeting them where they are.

“Supporting someone isn’t about trying to fix anything. Supporting someone is about meeting them where they are and respecting their experience and choices.”

Join Our Community of Care

Volunteers like Sylvie play a vital role in supporting survivors and strengthening our community. Their compassion, awareness, and dedication help ensure that survivors are met with care, respect, and understanding.

If you’re interested in contributing your time and skills, we invite you to learn more about becoming part of our volunteer community.

Visit our Volunteer page to find out how you can get involved.