Introduction

We are the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (AKKF). We are a Not-For-Profit supporting young people (aged 8-18) who are living in families affected by mental illness and Defence families impacted by the unique lifestyle of serving in Defence. Since 2002, we have helped young people to connect, learn, and grow through safe, fun, and meaningful programs. Our evidence-based camps, activity days, and online “Connect” sessions are designed by mental health professionals, delivered in a peer-based, recreation-led format. Our programs are proven to empower young people to thrive beyond the impacts of familial mental illness.

Check out what we do here https://kookaburrakids.org.au/

We value Connection, Commitment, Collaboration and Integrity. We strive for impact, and we do this through developing real relationships, flexibility, and a team that supports each other.

If you’re someone who wants your work to matter, who wants to help shape outcomes for young people and bring energy, authenticity, and care into your role, then AKKF is a place where your passion will be put into practice.

Description

About Our Programs

Activity and Camp days are single day events that provide an opportunity for children to connect, improve mental health literacy, develop help-seeking behaviours, and provide a fun day out for some much-needed respite. Activities can include ice skating, laser tag, bowling, movies, putt putt golf, and beach activities just to name a few! Activity days may be held on weekdays or weekends.

Camps are multi-day programs that provide an opportunity for connection, growth, and empowerment. Young people learn about mental illness and help-seeking behaviours, develop coping skills and resilience, build peer connection, participate in recreational and connection activities such as canoeing, archery, giant swings, go-karts and much more! Our camps run from 4.00pm Friday to 4.00pm Sunday.

Our camps and day activities are held in various locations across Australia, throughout the year.

The Opportunity

Empower young people to thrive through meaningful and fun work to make a positive impact in your community. As a Program Lead you will be instrumental in helping to deliver empowering, educational, and fun youth programs in your community through supporting Activity and Camp Days and Multi-Day Camps. You will be leading our programs and people. You will be providing essential coordination and leadership to our program teams and volunteers during activities. Our young people will look to you for support. This is a role where you get to have real impact,



ensuring all the cogs are running smoothly and stepping up when a challenge arises.

As a Program Lead you have the flexibility to jump on camps when you it suits you! This role will be for programs and activities in Southern Melbourne and for the occasional program in regional areas such as Sale and Albury. This is a casual role, where you have the flexibility to work weekends to fit in with your other commitments. You will have the opportunity to attend a program roughly every 4 weeks, but there is opportunity to attend additional programs if you're keen. You will be supported by a Program Support, Volunteers, plus a mental health clinician, to deliver the programs, working as a team to ensure our Young People are supported, safe, and engaged.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for someone who brings initiative, a love of recreation, and a passion for promoting youth wellbeing. You love big pictures and will be able to understand how the different parts of a program need to seamlessly come together. You'll be able to monitor multiple things (and people, lots of people!) at the same time, identifying challenges before they elevate. Whilst we love a good plan and our programs are meticulously thought out, sometimes the universe has different ideas - so you'll want to be able to think on your feet. You're probably a fan of kicking the footy on the weekend with mates (our young people love kicking the footy in downtime!). You're also someone who can sit and hold space for the deeper conversations; you know how to read a situation, understanding when is the right time and place. This prospect is for someone who wants to combine their love of outdoors recreation with helping young people. This is the ideal role for someone who can combine passion with the grind of leadership; you know when to step in but also when to delegate. It's for someone who wants to not only have fun but have impact.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the delivery of face-to-face youth programs, including Camps, Activity Days, and online Connect programs.
- Coordinate young people, program staff, and volunteers on programs.
- Coordinate on-program resource requirements to ensure smooth and high-quality program delivery.
- Coordinate all relevant on-program communications and briefing materials.




- Work in conjunction with other program staff and clinicians to support and manage behaviours on program.
- Participate in briefing and debriefing activities such as preparing materials and completing reports within allocated timeframes.
- Support volunteers and program staff by providing guidance and encouragement.
- Facilitate engaging, inclusive, and safe program experiences aligned with AKKF’s values and policies.
- Proactively support a safe environment through providing first aid as needed, child safeguarding protocols and upholding work health and safety standards.
- Build healthy and professional relationships with coworkers, volunteers, families and young people.

Skills and Experiences

About You

- Based in South Melbourne and willing to travel to regional areas such as Sale and Albury as required
- Experience managing challenging behaviours in the youth mental health space.
- Experience in delivering group youth activities or programs, ideally for large group sizes of 20-24.
- Experience working with youth of different age and development levels, ideally 8-18.
- Experience in multi-day camp style programs.
- Experience in leading people.
- Valid driver’s license and access to own vehicle.
- Current First Aid and CPR Certificate.
- Current Working With Children Check.

Why Join Us?

- Be part of a values-driven organisation committed to youth empowerment.
- Contribute to programs that make a real difference in young people's lives.
- Fun, rewarding, and meaningful work where you see the difference you make in peoples lives first hand.
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Opportunity to participate in exciting and varied camps and activity days including potential local and interstate travel.
- Flexible work to fit in with your other commitments.
- Be part of a values-driven organisation committed to youth empowerment.
- Contribute to programs that make a real difference in young people's lives.
- Fun, rewarding, and meaningful work where you see the difference you make in peoples lives first hand.
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Flexible work to fit in with your other commitments.
- Wellbeing-focused Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with confidential support and resources for you and your family

Child Safeguarding

AKKF is committed to creating environments where the safety and wellbeing of young people is at the center of our thoughts, values, and actions.

Employment is subject to reference checks, a National Police Check, and a Working with Children Check.

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📌 Program Lead - Melbourne South (Victoria)
🏢 Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation
📍 Victoria