Our events wouldn’t happen without our festivals team, including our wonderful Friends of the Festival Volunteers. Once registered as a volunteer, your email will go onto our volunteer database and a notification will be sent to you when volunteer opportunities open for each of our events run over the year.
Our incredible and diverse crew of volunteers work closely with our festival team to deliver large community-based events. These include assisting in the bump in/out and the running of event/s, assisting public in navigating the event/s as well as, supporting all festival-goers in having the best time possible.
What’s Involved
Per event, volunteers typically contribute between 2 - 8 hours. Depending on the event, Mackay Festivals offers a flexible and interesting range of volunteer opportunities.
Over the year, Mackay Festivals organises the 3 main festivals. These include:
● Mackay Festival of Arts (Whole month of July)
This festival includes Wisely Wine & Food Day and Daly Bay Illuminate.
● Global Grooves (October)
● New Years Eve River Party (December)
Volunteers need to be:
● Aged 15 years and older
● Flexible and reliable with a sense of fun
● Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
● Expected to be available to work 8+ hours across the busy festival season (whole month of July).
We encourage people with different abilities, skills and experiences to apply.
The perks
Our Friends of the Festival gain valuable experience in working in the event industry, giving insight into the workings of both small and large scale events. It also provides opportunities to gain new friendships, network with arts and industry professionals as well as contribute to the community by providing safe, fun and welcoming events for the Mackay region.
Volunteers will receive:
● 1 x Festival t-shirt
Other opportunities
There will be a range of learning and training opportunities (depending on role) that volunteers will receive and have access too.
This may include:
● Volunteer induction
● Hands on event experience
● 2 way radio training
● Customer service training
● Teamwork experience
● Sun safety training
● Workplace health and safety training/education
● Precision timing education and importance of deadlines
Equal opportunity
The Mackay Festival is an equal opportunity organisation. We celebrate culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Our vision is to have a team which reflects the diversity of Mackay’s population.
Volunteer roles
Check out each role outlined below to discover those that pique your interest. Then click apply now!
You will be the first friendly face that patrons see and meet at the event and festival sites.
Information centre welcoming committee will be the first point of contact to welcome and greet customers and community members when attending an event or festival. The position will help guide customers through the festival experience and answer general enquires.
Tasks and responsibilities
Shall include, but not be limited to:
- Greeting customers entering the event and festival sites
- Assist to provide program information to customers.
- Guide customers through the festival itinerary for the day
- Answering potential questions and escalate more complicated questions to event supervisor.
- Perform functions according to procedures and instructions provided.
- Exercise judgment when dealing with challenging situations
- Other responsibilities as directed by your immediate event supervisor within the scope of this position.
Experience
- Friendly outgoing personality
- Work well under pressure
- Good customer service and people skills
- The ability to follow procedures
- The ability to recall and know all things festival
You will be the first friendly face that patrons see and meet at the event and festival sites.
The Main Gate Attendant will be the first welcoming friendly face to greet customers and suppliers. Provide relevant event information and conduct permit checks for all suppliers and vehicles coming and going from the event site. This role is based across different events and locations
Tasks and responsibilities
Shall include, but not be limited to:
- Working at the front access gate the role will involve a lot standing, walking and being outdoors
- Welcoming customers and suppliers and providing directions.
- Handing out event programs to visitors.
- Conducting checks on access permits for vehicles entering the premises
- Assisting with signage requirements
- Answering potential questions and escalate more complicated questions to event supervisor.
- Perform functions according to procedures and instructions provided.
- Exercise judgment when dealing with challenging situations
- Other responsibilities as directed by your immediate event supervisor within the scope of this position.
Experience
- Mature, confident, friendly team member good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Well-developed customer service skills including ability to build rapport.
Able to work under pressure within short timeframes and adapt to changing work environments and/or conditions while maintaining a positive attitude.
Desirable
Knowledge of how to use a two-way radio
The Backstage supporter.
The Green Room Attendant is the backstage assistant to the stars of the show, you will be responsible for welcoming performers, assisting with any requirements, securing costumes and instruments, monitoring catering, and ensuring the area is tidy and clean
Tasks and responsibilities
- Shall include, but not be limited to:
- Assist to welcome performers, and supporting them with any requirements.
- Preparation with securing costumes and instruments.
- Assisting with catering requirements.
- Ensuring area remain tidy and clean at all times.
- Answering potential questions and escalate more complicated questions to event supervisor.
- Perform functions according to procedures and instructions provided.
- Exercise judgment when dealing with challenging situations
- Other responsibilities as directed by your immediate event supervisor within the scope of this position.
Experience
- Mature and responsible person with great communications skills.
- Friendly personality and is willing to assist.
- Well-developed customer service and communication skills including ability to build rapport quickly
- Able to work under pressure within short timeframes and adapt to changing work environments and/or conditions while maintaining a positive attitude.
- Exercise judgement in the planning of own work and management of time
- Able to follow direction according to procedures and work instructions.
Logistics helper assists with the safe and timely bump in and/or out of vendors, setting up and dismantling of the event/festival. The role will be based predominantly outdoors.
Tasks and responsibilities
Shall include, but not be limited to:
- This job involve outdoor work, manual handling and lot's of walking.
- Assisting in the set up of the event/festival
- Ability to read and follow event map as well as provide clear directions
- Assisting vendors and suppliers with logistics, and direct them to their map location.
- Assisting to pack down of festival/event, including market stalls and food vendors.
- Answering generic questions and escalate more complicated questions to event supervisor.
- Perform functions according to procedures and instructions provided.
- Exercise judgment when dealing with challenging situations
- Other responsibilities as directed by your immediate event supervisor within the scope of this position.
Experience
- Keen willingness to to assist and get things done.
- Well-developed customer service and communication skills including ability to build rapport.
- Good communication, patience and people skills
- Sound understanding of how to interoperate and translate maps and provide clear direction
- Able to work under pressure within short timeframes and adapt to changing work environments and/or conditions while maintaining a positive attitude.
- Exercise judgement in the planning of own work and management of time
- Able to follow direction according to procedures and work instructions.