At Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (‘AKKF’) our purpose is to empower young people to thrive beyond the impacts of family mental illness. We achieve this by:

• Delivering positive mental health outcomes through high quality services that are trauma informed and evidence based;
• Delivering services that uniquely integrate recreation with mental health education, on the kids turf and on the kids terms; and
• Driving thought leadership and best practice in mental health through research and advocacy for young people and their families across Australia.

The opportunity:

Working under the guidance of the Head of Clinical Delivery, this role is responsible for providing clinical assessment and support to young people within the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation’s (‘AKKF’) programs, ensuring evidence-based practice is inherent in all aspects of care and treatment, and assisting in dissemination of knowledge throughout the clinical area.

The key requirement will be providing onsite mental health support and guidance across AKKF Camps (and other programs as needed). Camps are held at various locations throughout NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT and TAS from Friday 16.00 until Sunday 16.00 approximately. Times may vary across camps and locations, and clinicians are encouraged to attend camps held nearest to their home state where practicable.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide Clinical guidance and support (not therapy) on Camp Activity weekends from Friday to Monday.
• Review AKKF clinical files as required to identify and manage risks and areas of clinical concern.
• Communicate as appropriate any required care planning with AKKF employees, whilst maintaining the integrity of the young person and their right to confidentiality.
• Administer medications to young people, as required as part of the Wellness Intervention Plan (WIP), following the AKKF medication protocol, and ensuring medication checklists are carried out on arrival to camp.
• Support AKKF employees and volunteers to monitor and manage mental health matters (including challenging behaviours) applying best practice and least restrictive principles.
• Provide support to young people where emotional/ behavioural/ social difficulties present and manage these appropriately in keeping with AKKF policies and procedures.
• Initiate and maintain communications with key individuals on complex concerns.
• Oversee coordination and consultation regarding issues of risk, including risk mitigation planning, collaborative escalation, reporting, notifications (including carer and mandatory reporting notifications) and completion of relevant documentation.
• Participate in clinical debriefing and quality improvement feedback initiatives as required.

About you:

To be successful in the role of Camp Clinician (Contractor):

Qualifications:

• All Camp Clinicians must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); enabling them to work in a community mental health team.
• Social Workers do not have to be registered with AHPRA but must be mental health endorsed with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• AHPRA Registration needs to be aligned to mental health professionals including Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Paramedics.
• Camp Clinicians must have three years practical post graduate experience in mental health and be AHPRA registered or at least Level 3 ACA (Australian Counselling Association) accreditation, or AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) accreditation.
• Social Workers are suitable as Camp Clinicians if the following criteria are met: a) mental health Social Worker, b) completed a bachelor's degree in social work or counselling or Community Service, or c) three years practical post graduate experience.

Other requirements:

• Must have a current ABN as well as sufficient Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.
• Experience working with children and adolescents is desirable.
• Ability to act as a clinical leader, role modelling integrity, advocacy, transparency, and accountability.
• Demonstrate a high level of clinical critical thinking and problem-solving skills, applying theory into practice in the provision of best practice.
• Strong communication skills (verbal, written and virtual).
• Ability to recognise implicit bias and deliver unconditional positive regard.
• Strong ability to engage with a variety of audiences, tailoring communication to suit the relevant audience.
• Proficient Microsoft office suites.
• Experiences in working with CRMs or similar IT programs.
• Maintain a current satisfactory check for working with young people, as per the relevant state/territory legislation – unless otherwise covered by their registration.
• Maintain a current and satisfactory National Police Check.
• Maintain a driver’s license and have access to own vehicle.

Child Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to creating environments where the safety and wellbeing of young people is at the centre of our thoughts, values, and actions. We are building an organisational culture where young people, families, communities, and everyone who collaborates with us feels safe and confident to have a say and raise any concerns.

Safeguarding young people is the responsibility of all Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation people, including the Board, Executive, leaders, employees, contractors, and volunteers across the whole organisation.