FT Indigenous Patient Navigator Full Time NEW

Status:                      Full-time, permanent      

Location:                 Owen Sound, ON

Hours:                      35 hours/week (5 days)

Salary:                      $51,078 to $63,847 per year

Paid Time Off:       3 weeks’ vacation, 12 health & 3 personal days, 5 spiritual/cultural days, professional development and your birthday

Benefits:                 Comprehensive health, dental, life insurance and more

Pension:                  HOOPP (defined benefit plan)

Posting Date:         May 19, 2026

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, dynamic, multiservice Indigenous health and wellness agency.  We strive to provide quality, wholistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. SOAHAC provides services to Indigenous people including those who live on and off reserve, status, non-status, Inuit, and Metis within the Southwest, Waterloo-Wellington and Erie St Clair regions.  SOAHAC has a mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality, and are culturally appropriate. It is SOAHAC’s objective to build health care capacity within Indigenous communities.  Currently, we are seeking the services of an Indigenous Patient Navigator to join our interdisciplinary staff team to work at our Owen Sound site. 

Reporting to the Integrated Care Manager, the Indigenous Patient Navigator serves as a trusted support to Indigenous people and families navigating hospital and community health systems. Grounded in Indigenous values, relational practice, and wholistic wellness, this role supports Indigenous clients in understanding care options, asking informed questions, accessing culturally safe care, and navigating complex health systems.

Working within predominantly Western health environments, the Navigator respectfully advocates for Indigenous patients while building collaborative relationships with hospitals, physicians, care teams, Traditional Healers, Elders, and community organizations. The role helps bridge Indigenous and Western approaches to wellness through a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that honours Traditional Healing alongside clinical care.

The Navigator assists with care coordination, discharge planning, advocacy, culturally safe transitions, confidentiality, documentation, and access to community and Traditional Healing supports to promote wellness, dignity, and equitable care outcomes for Indigenous people and families.

Responsibilities

Provide culturally safe navigation support to Indigenous individuals and families accessing hospital, healthcare, and community services.
Build trusting relationships with clients using a trauma-informed, relational, and wholistic approach grounded in Indigenous values and wellness practices.
Support clients in understanding healthcare options, treatment plans, discharge processes, and available services to make informed decisions about their care.
Advocate for Indigenous patients within predominantly Western healthcare systems to ensure equitable, respectful, and culturally responsive care.
Coordinate care transitions, referrals, and discharge planning between hospitals, community organizations, and home supports.
Connect clients with Traditional Healers, Elders, ceremony, cultural resources, and other Indigenous community supports based on individual needs and preferences.
Foster collaborative relationships with healthcare providers, community partners, and Indigenous organizations to strengthen coordinated care and service delivery.
Maintain confidential documentation, track client supports and contribute to improving culturally safe healthcare practices and systems.

Requirements
Indigenous ancestry and/or strong demonstrated connection and accountability to Indigenous communities preferred, with preference given to qualified Indigenous applicants.
Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Social Worker, Social Service Worker, Indigenous Human Services, Health Promotion, or related human services degree/diploma preferred. Equivalent education and experience may be considered.
Minimum 3–5 years’ experience working with Indigenous people in healthcare, hospital, community wellness, patient advocacy, system navigation, case management, social work, or related environments.
Demonstrated experience navigating hospital systems and understanding clinical pathways, specialist care, and discharge planning.
Experience advocating for individuals in complex systems
Strong knowledge of hospital systems, healthcare standards, patient rights, confidentiality, and coordinated care planning.
Knowledge of Indigenous health inequities impacts of colonialism, and systemic barriers in healthcare.
Understanding of Traditional Healing practices and willingness to support Indigenous wellness pathways.
Knowledge of Indigenous organizations, Nations, and community supports in the service region.
Ability to respectfully advocate in predominantly Western institutional environments.
Strong critical thinking and ability to ask informed healthcare questions.
Ability to translate medical language into understandable information.
Strong relationship-building and trust development skills.
High level of professionalism, confidentiality, and documentation practice.
Strong conflict navigation, facilitation, and communication skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary systems.

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

 SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however, hiring preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume through the career portal. https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/soahac/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/625

Please note that our applicant tracking system may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support aspects of the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made by our team.

If unable to submit through the careers portal you may submit to [email protected] visit Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre online at:  www.soahac.on.ca or like us on www.facebook.com/soahac to learn more about us! We thank all those for applying but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.