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

Discover how Tana’s journey as a Sexual Assault Response Team volunteer reflects the power of empathy, connection, and community care at VSAC.

At the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC), our volunteers play an essential role in providing care, connection, and hope to survivors in our community. Each brings their own strengths, empathy, and lived experience to this work. This month, we’re honored to feature Tana, one of our dedicated Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) volunteers, whose reflections offer a glimpse into the meaningful impact of supporting others through moments of crisis.

“I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to volunteer with VSAC! Being a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team makes me feel connected to community—not just within the Centre, but the greater community of Victoria, too. Being in a position where I can offer support to others in a way that's so deeply meaningful has boosted my confidence and taught me just how important community care is.”

For Tana, joining SART has been both a learning experience and a personal journey of growth. The comprehensive training process, which prepares volunteers to provide emotional support and practical assistance to survivors, left a deep impression.

“During training, I was in a learning community of diverse, yet like-minded, individuals. Everyone had such rich thoughts, ideas, and feedback, and I was so struck by everyone's ability to show up to the learnings with vulnerability and an eagerness to grow. I learned just as much from my amazing peers as I did from the incredible coordinators! I left every session feeling as though I'd just tapped into a deep well of emotional, intellectual, and practical knowledge.”

Tana recalls feeling nervous before their first on-call shift—but that quickly shifted once the call began.

“Like with anything new, I was so nervous for my first call, but as soon as I started talking to the person on the other end, that tension melted away. It truly felt like a privilege to be trusted with someone's story, and help clear the path for those first few steps forward on their healing journey. We can never ‘fix’ what happened to someone, but hanging up the phone knowing the person on the other end felt a little lighter, and had a few extra tools in their toolbelt for the trek ahead, made me feel a little lighter, too.”

Through their time with VSAC, Tana has come to embody the spirit of care, compassion, and community that defines the Centre’s work. Their story is a powerful reminder that healing is collective — and that by showing up for one another, we all help make our community stronger.

Join Our Community of Care

Volunteers like Tana make a real difference in the lives of survivors and in the broader Victoria community. If you’re interested in contributing your time, compassion, and skills, we encourage you to learn more about our volunteer opportunities.

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