Constable Kenny Koala Handler (Casual)

Australian Federal Police; Canberra; On-site; AUD 39,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Australian Federal Police in Canberra is seeking a casual Constable Kenny Koala handler to deliver safety education sessions to children aged 3-12 and to join community events with Constable Kenny Koala. The role emphasizes engaging with kids, promoting safety, and building trust in ACT Policing.

You will present in classrooms, attend events, and represent the Kenny persona while ensuring the safety and well‑being of participants.

Qualifications

• Ability and passion for engaging with children and promoting child safety.
• Comfort delivering safety presentations in classroom settings.
• Willingness to act as an icebreaker for police with young people.

Responsibilities

• Deliver safety presentations using the Constable Kenny Koala puppet.
• Attend community events to promote police work and community trust.
• Adapt communication style for diverse audiences and environments.
• Work largely independently with good time management and reliability.

Skills

Engaging with children

Public speaking

Puppetry operation

Time management

Adaptable communication

Education

Australian Citizenship

Job description

Become the Face Behind Canberra’s Favourite Koala!

If you grew up in Canberra, you will more than likely know the name and face of Constable Kenny Koala! ACT Policing’s famous crime fighting koala has become a household name over the years, helping generations of young people learn important life skills through fun, interactive safety education. For more than 50 years, the Constable Kenny Koala program has been delivering presentations across Canberra on the topics of road safety, protective behaviours, decision making, and cyber safety. Constable Kenny is a high-profile and trusted public figure, and ACT Policing is now looking for the right additions to the team to continue upholding the valuable reputation he has in the community.

Working alongside Constable Kenny is more than just holding a puppet — it's about bringing Constable Kenny to life, representing yourself as a trusted friend of both Constable Kenny and ACT Policing, and inspiring young people to make safe choices, build resilience, and develop positive relationships with police. Schools and early learning environments are at the heart of the program; a friend of Constable Kenny can expect to be spending their days delivering scheduled sessions to a variety of children aged 3-12 years. You will also have the opportunity to attend community events with Constable Kenny to continue promoting the work of police in the ACT and deepening community connections. All efforts are designed to build trust and confidence in ACT Policing, encourage vulnerable community members to report crime, and divert young people from unsafe behaviours.

Constable Kenny has an irreplaceable role to play as a conduit between police and the community – regardless of age, background, gender, or language, the role of a Constable Kenny handler is to allow others to see themselves reflected in those there to protect them, the police. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a program that has touched the lives of thousands of Canberra children and families. If you’re looking for a role where you can educate, inspire, connect and make a genuine impact, then Constable Kenny is ready for his next trusted partner.

You will also be required to contribute to the achievement of outcomes in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance Instruments. It is expected that the successful applicant will deliver on the core responsibilities and meet any requirements of the position as outlined below.

Please note - this is a casual position, hours will be varied and on an ad-hoc basis.

What will you do?

As a Constable Kenny Koala handler, successful applicants can expect a dynamic work environment and impactful role responsibilities. Successful applicants will play a key role in maintaining the perception of Constable Kenny in the community and achieving shared program outcomes.

A friend of Constable Kenny will need to:

• have the ability and passion for engaging with children and promoting child safety.
• perform consistently in front of classrooms with the Constable Kenny puppet to deliver safety presentations and adopt the Kenny persona when engaging with children.
• operate the Constable Kenny puppet in a proficient and effective manner and ensure you meet the physical demands required to manipulate the puppet for up to six sessions per day.
• understand some children may have challenging behaviours and/or a distrust of police due to their personal circumstances or backgrounds.
• attend community events with Constable Kenny Koala.
• act as an ‘icebreaker’ for police with young people and community members who may be mistrusting towards or fearful of police.
• be able to adapt your communication style/approach to positively engage with children and members of the public with varying levels of ability.
• actively participate in communication and marketing activities to support the program such as media, social media, photography and videography activities.
• understand and abide by legislation regarding any disclosures children may make to Constable Kenny (you) – including disclosures of a criminal nature – and monitor the impact this may have own your own wellbeing, seeking appropriate support when required.
• build positive relationships with children and their teachers and/or carers which establish trust between ACT Policing and the Canberra community.
• work largely independently and possess good time management skills.
• commit to 1-2 regular shifts per week, with consideration also given to ad-hoc weekend work (where appropriate).
• establish and maintain puppet proficiency, taking advantage of training/upskilling/refresher opportunities offered.

Successful applicants may be required to work outside of normal business hours, including weekends. As such, you will be subject to the appropriate conditions detailed in the AFP Enterprise Agreement.

• You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Ability to physically operate Constable Kenny Koala as a puppeteer.
• Ability to adapt communication style and program content to audiences.
• Qualifications or experience in areas relevant to the role and responsibilities.

Additional Information

• This role is located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory and applicants are expected to be based in Canberra.
• Internal AFP applicants are not eligible to apply for casual employment in addition to their substantive position.

Selection Criteria

Bands 4

• Organising your work, making sound decisions and achieving outcomes
• Communicating and working effectively with other people
• Applying technical knowledge, expertise and skills

Employment Suitability

Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.

Recruitment Process

Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application, may be asked to complete additional assessments or activities to determine suitability for the role. This may also include a formal interview. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for your interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is an operational priority for the Australian Federal Police (AFP). To be an effective police force, we must be reflective of the community we serve, working across languages, cultures and transnational borders. The 2023-26 Diversity & Inclusion Strategy is the guiding framework for delivering the AFP’s diversity and inclusion goals and reflecting our commitment to being an employer of choice, incorporating diversity and inclusion principles in day-to-day practice and building a psychologically and culturally safe workplace. This includes hiring people from diverse backgrounds who bring their lived experience to contribute, and add value, to the AFP. Find out more about how the AFP embraces diversity and inclusion.

Contacts and Closing Information:

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEST) 17/09/2026