Volunteering for Events

Are you interested in volunteering for events – small or large? Here are a few tips to get you going …

Think about your interests and skills

Your interests and skills will influence the type of event you volunteer for and the role you will play at your chosen event.

If you're interested in sports, you can volunteer for swimming, running, triathlon and tennis events, whereas if your interests lie in entertainment and celebrations you might want to volunteer for concerts, Australia Day events or New Years Eve – to name a few.

To make sure you'll be having fun at your chosen events, think about an area or an activity that you enjoy or have an interest in. Some event organisers provide training, but many don't, so make sure the role/s you are interested in is something you can do. Some roles volunteers fill are:

• Spectator Services
• Marshalling
• Attending Drink Stations
• Logistics
• Pre-Event Office Assistance
• Registration
• Driving

Assess your availability

Before you find the event for you, it is important you assess you availability. Ask yourself how much time you have to give – how many hours you want to give, which days are suitable and how many times per year you wish to volunteer. This will ensure you do not over allocate yourself for volunteering.

Find out which events are happening and when…

There are two ways to find out about upcoming events:

1. Register as a volunteer with the Volunteer Referral Service (VRS) using the online application form and have access to both general and event volunteer roles.
2. Search GoVolunteer for current event roles

Know who or what you are volunteering for

Volunteering means giving your time freely for no financial reward. Many volunteers take part in events to have fun and experience large or small public events. In essence, it is a donation of your time, skills and willingness. As with all donations, it's important to make sure you know who and what you're 'giving' and volunteering for.

Many large charities pay commercial event organisers to help them put on fundraisers, balls, marathons and other events. This is a normal part of the cost of professional fundraising and usually a necessary investment. The same can be said for many public events run by government and commercial partners