Introduction

Who We Are

We are the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (AKKF). We are a Not-For-Profit supporting young people (aged 8-18) that 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 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.

Connect sessions are “hosted” by Kookaburra Kids staff and volunteers online and are designed to be a fun, safe area where young people can express themselves in a supportive workplace. Our connect sessions are interactive and follow a similar format as our activity days and camps; incorporating fun with mental health education.

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

The Opportunity

As a member of our Program staff, you will be instrumental in helping to deliver empowering, educational, and fun youth programs in your community. You will have a chance to change the lives of young people. You will be providing leadership to our program teams and volunteers, overseeing the delivery of programs, and coordinating and supporting young people.

Our young people, program staff, and volunteers will look to you for support and guidance. 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. You will have the opportunity to step into both the Program Support and Program Lead role, depending on program requirements.





This means you have variety - getting to experience all aspects of our programs and develop great experience in the program life cycle. You will receive hands-on training and ongoing guidance, with continuous support to ensure you're confident in delivering our programs.

Being part of our Program staff means that you have the flexibility to jump on camps when it suits you! This role will be for programs and activities in the Perth area, but if you're keen to get out and about, there is opportunity to travel to camps across Australia. This is a casual role, where you have the flexibility to work in with your other commitments.

You will be attending a program roughly every few weeks, but there is opportunity to attend additional programs. You will be supported by a great team; our programs are staffed by a Program Lead, Program Support, multiple Volunteers, plus a Mental Health Clinician. You will be part of a collaborative team delivering programs, working together 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 escalate.

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 big kid at heart, a fan of kicking the footy, mucking about and having a laugh. You're also someone who can sit and hold space for the deeper conversations; you know how to read a situation, understanding when the right time and place is.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to combine their love of outdoors recreation with helping young people; 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 to have impact.

Key Responsibilities

- Assist in or lead the delivery of face-to-face youth programs, including Camps, Activity Days, and online Connect programs.
- Coordinate young people 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.
- Organise safe transport for young people, including meet-and-greet, signing in/out, and medication collection.
- 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 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

- 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.
- Ability to attend regular camps and activity days (at least once a month).
- Valid driver’s license and access to own vehicle.
- Current First Aid Certificate including CPR.
- 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.
- Wellbeing-focused Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with confidential support and resources for you and your family

How To Apply Ready to engage in meaningful, impactful work? Give us the rundown on all things you. Please provide a short one page Cover Letter responding to the 'About You' points along with your Resume.

Please note, due to the high volume of applications expected applications that do not provide a Cover Letter addressing the criteria will not be considered.

We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply. As are those who identify as LGBTQIA+ or as neurodivergent.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know first-hand how valuable lived experience is to support positive outcomes for our young people.

We warmly encourage current or former members of the Australian Defence Force to apply. If you have served, you are welcome (but not required) to share your experience in your application. We value the unique skills and perspectives that Defence service brings.

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.

📌 Program Staff (WA) (Perth)
🏢 Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation
📍 Perth