Fairbridge Festival 2024: Volunteer Role Descriptions
Thanks for your interest in volunteering at our festival! This document outlines the various volunteering roles and teams we have at the festival. This overview is accurate at the time of writing, but we may need to change things. Consider this a guide and not a gospel (Fairbridge Festival 2024 – Volunteer Role Descriptions)
Volunteering at Fairbridge Festival
Working as a volunteer at the festival can be a fantastic way of getting involved behind the scenes and experiencing the festival in a whole new way. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival! With over 400 volunteers, we have a job for everyone…
Under-18s
While we can accept under-18 volunteers, we do limit the positions available. We require all under-18s to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Get in touch
If you want to speak to one of the area managers directly, please let us know and we can connect you!
Comperes, Bar Staff, Stage Managers, Photographers/Videographers
If you have great customer service and an RSA we’d love you in the bar! If you’re confident on stage, have the gift of the gab and know which end of the microphone to speak into, please apply to compere! If you feel more at home tucked backstage with a radio and a clipboard, sounds like you’re a stage manager. If you are a professional photographer/videographer – we would love you to join us to capture some magical moments at our new venue.
You can apply for these roles via the Volunteer Application Form, but please feel to get in touch directly with your details and qualifications – volunteers@fairbridgefestival.com.au
Fairbridge Festival 2024: Volunteer Roles
Artist Services
One of the most important tasks is looking after our artists. It’s a big job so it’s been broken down into a few separate teams.
Artist Central
| About | Artist Central is a busy hub providing a reception and concierge service for our artists. |
| Role | Check-in all artists on arrival, deal with all performer queries, take bookings for artist massage appointments and maintain the lounge area. |
| Attributes | You need to be good with people, outgoing, organised and able to multi-task and keep a cool head. |
| Team size | 2 plus Area Manager & 2IC |
| Available hours | Some shifts available Thursday. Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend Friday-Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Instrument Scheduling & Lockup
| About | Instrument scheduling is an essential part of our support to artists who often have to perform in several venues and need assistance to move larger items. |
| Role | Work as part of a small team who check-in and manage the secure storage of instruments in the lockup, plus timely transport of larger instruments between the lock-up and backstage at venues across the festival site. |
| Attributes | Must be 25 yrs. + with current driver’s license. Must be fit, have a good knowledge of the festival site (or learn quickly!) and have total respect for artists’ instruments. An ability to plan a sequence of tasks and think on your feet is a distinct advantage when (if!) scheduling goes awry. |
| Team size | 3 |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend 8am to 1am Friday-Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. Some setup work Thursday. |
Campsite Marshals
| About | Marshals are located at the entrance to the main festival camping areas during the busiest arrival periods on Thursday and primarily Friday to direct traffic and explain the facilities. |
| Role | Help people orient themselves, direct them to the right place in the camping area, and explain the resource, recycling and waste management and other facilities. You will also assist as a vehicle marshal during peak arrival times in your assigned area. |
| Attributes | A friendly disposition, an easy-going nature and a problem-solving personality will all be great assets. Must be available via mobile phone. |
| Team size | 2 plus roving Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours on Thursday or Friday. |
Children’s Festival
Our children’s program caters for kids under the age of 13. Volunteers work alongside facilitators who plan specific activities.
Paper Scissors Rock
| About | This is our famous children’s arts and craft venue. |
| Role | Assist a workshop supervisor in presenting a themed craft workshop to under 13s. |
| Attributes | Must be inspired by the imagination of children and enjoy watching them create sustainable art. Working with Children Card required. |
| Team size | 6 plus Area Manager and Workshop Coordinator. |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
Face Painting
| About | A busy venue in the middle of the children’s festival providing face painting for up to 10 children simultaneously. |
| Role | Face painting for young children (designs and paints provided). |
| Attributes | You don’t have to be a brilliant artist – we can teach you some simple techniques to get you started (although a little bit of creativity and a steady hand does help). If you are a child aged 14+ and want to volunteer in this area, your will need consent from a parent/guardian who is attending the festival also. WWC Card required by all volunteers aged 18 and over. |
| Team size | 10 plus Area Manager & 2IC |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours between 8:30 to 5:30 Saturday and Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Woodshed
| About | The little Woodshed venue allows kids to hone their constructional talents making stuff out of wood. |
| Role | Assist children in constructing ‘a child’s view’ of wooden masterpieces and maintain some order in the ‘shed’. |
| Attributes | Impervious to chaos as the Woodshed can be busy and noisy but a lot of fun! WWC Card required for volunteers aged 18 and over. |
| Team size | 3 plus Area Manager & 2IC |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours between 10 to 4 Saturday and Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Resource Recovery and Waste
Our resource recovery and waste teams are essential to both the ethos and general operation of the festival. Volunteers may be allocated to shifts across several areas in order to get a more complete view of the whole resource recovery and cleaning task.
Tabletop Troopers
| About | This team of volunteers keeps the food vendor area and licensed venues clean and clear of litter. Moving between venues means you get to see more of what’s going on during your shift. |
| Role | To clear and wipe down tables, straighten chairs and ensure litter is disposed of in the correct bins – especially at the end of each evening. |
| Attributes | You need to be a great people person, outgoing, organised and able to multi-task and keep a cool head. Tabletop Troopers can be aged 14-17 if working with a parent or guardian on the same shift. This is to meet licensing requirements. |
| Team size | 3 or 4, depending on time of day, plus Area Manager & 2IC |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend 6am to midnight to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. Shifts may be combined with other areas within Resource Recovery and Waste. |
Bin Fairies
| About | We have recycling and waste separation systems to avoid sending recoverable items to landfill. This is a critical area in minimising the environmental footprint of the event and in keeping costs down. Mandatory training is provided pre and on-event |
| Role | Our Bin Fairies assist patrons in the food vendor area to recover as much compostable (food, organics, paper plates, etc) and recyclable (plastic, glass and cans) material as possible by ensuring they’re correctly separated. You may also need to occasionally swap full bins for empty bins from the bin compound. |
| Attributes | Want to be a waste educator? You will enjoy chatting to people at the bin stations in the food areas and assisting to achieve our goals of minimising waste. Wear closed-toe shoes, wings, a feather boa or a fancy hat, or almost anything bright and colourful that a Bin Fairy might wear. Long handle tongs are provided so you don’t need to touch anything! |
| Team size | 8, spread between four main areas, plus Area Manager & 2IC |
Bin Ninjas
| About | Ninjas play an essential role in our waste recovery and recycling process by ensuring that bins don’t overflow and cause a mess. |
| Role |
Monitor the status of bins (typically 240L wheelie bins) in assigned areas of the festival over the duration of your 3-hour shift. You need to be fit and strong enough to move the bin to a nearby collection point once it’s full, then bring back an empty bin. May be combined with other roles within the Resource Recovery and Waste teams. |
| Team size | 2 – 4, plus Area Manager & 2IC |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours between Friday lunchtime and Sunday afternoon to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. Shifts may be combined with other areas within Resource Recovery and Waste. |
Entry
| About | Work at the entrance to the festival to manage all arrivals – festival patrons, stall holders, volunteers, staff etc |
| Role | Traffic team After training in our traffic management system you will marshal incoming vehicles and ensure incoming and outgoing traffic moves through as quickly as possible. Gate team is first contact point for all arrivals at the festival. Help maintain efficient entry to the festival including service vehicles, festival staff by checking intended destinations and tickets. Parking team Direct cars that need to park outside the festival site, either as day visitors or to visit the Ticket Tent. Scanning team inside paddock – scan Moshtix tickets, vehicle passes, issue wristbands with a welcoming smile! |
| Attributes | Suits people with a love of people and festivals, a huge smiley disposition and an ability to think on their feet and keep the queues to a minimum. |
| Team size | 2 – 4 plus Area Manager and 2IC depending on which team and time of day. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday-Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Info Desk
| About | Info Desk deals with all festival goers enquires and is located in the heart of the festival precinct. |
| Role | Deal with all manner of enquiries both from walk-ins or phone, lost property, public incident reports etc. |
| Attributes | Friendly and calm disposition needed with good people skills. Knowledge of radio operations, basic computer skills, familiarity of the festival site, and the ability to multi-task would be a huge advantage. |
| Team size | 2, plus Area Manager and 2IC |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the days before and during the festival. |
Children’s Services
| About | A check-in facility for parents and under 18s so we have the information to quickly reunite anyone who’s missing. The centralised meeting point for children who have become separated from their parent/guardian to be reunited. |
| Role | Document children, teens and parents to ensure contact details are written on wristbands. Receive incoming lost children and create a safe space while following the lost child procedure. |
| Attributes | Must be friendly and reliable. WWC Card required. |
| Team size | 2 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours between Friday and Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Team Den
| About | All volunteers register here before starting work and receive their volunteer packs. Volunteer reserves are managed here, and volunteers can come here for assistance. Team Den also provides a place for all volunteers and crew to call home and a place to escape the weather and hustle bustle of the festival. |
| Role | We provide a resource for all volunteers and crew. A central location where volunteers are managed, and a quick response provided to all areas requesting help. Internal operations are coordinated here too, including our radio charging/register, and internal incident reports. Team Den also provides help and information to our on-site volunteers and crew. |
| Attributes | You must have a welcoming smile and be prepared to do a range of different tasks, with a good knowledge of the festival and the different volunteer roles. Knowledge of radio operations is an advantage. You will be required to use our festival management software; Festival Pro. Training will be provided at our training event in March. Quick learners who are tech savvy will excel here. |
| Team size | 2-3 plus Area Manager and 2IC |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Vendors Assistant
| About | The 65 or more market traders and food stalls are an important part of the festival and efficient management is essential to the operation of this area. |
| Role | You will support the Vendors Manager in placement of site markers, allocation of hire equipment, checking documentation and compliance, directing stallholders to market/vendor sites and campsites and generally ensure the area is kept clean and tidy over the weekend. |
| Attributes | Good people skills essential, with an ability to listen carefully and resolve problems. You may need to move trestle tables and to use a tool or two. |
| Team size | 3 plus Area Manager. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Monday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Festival Shop
Our onsite shop sells lots of awesome merch – both our festival’s and artists.
Festival Merchandise
| Role | Sales team member selling a wide range of festival-branded merchandise. |
| Attributes | Must love working in retail and be fanatical about ‘neat and tidy’. A background in retail/merchandise/display would be useful but not essential |
| Team size | 3-4 depending on time of day, plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Artist Merch
| Role | Sales team member selling artists’ CDs and merchandise on consignment |
| Attributes | Must love working in retail and be good at stock control and reconciliations and a good ability to follow process. A background in retail/merchandise/display would be useful but not essential. |
| Team size | 2-3 depending on time of day, plus Area Manager. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Phone Charging
| Role | Assist festival goers at our phone charging area. |
| Attributes | Happy and helpful, with the ability to follow a set process and manage payments. |
| Team size | 2-3 depending on time of day, plus Area Manager. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Raffle Tickets
| Role | Sell tickets to raise funds for the festival. Raffle volunteers will have a sales quota during the festival weekend. |
| Attributes | Outgoing, happy personality and an ability to sell tickets! |
| Team size | 2-3 depending on time of day, plus Area Manager. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Hospitality
| About | Provide basic services for artists, crew, volunteers and our glamping and cosy campers. |
| Role | Prepare and maintain hospitality areas within the festival site. |
| Attributes | Friendly disposition, organised and able to follow instructions. |
| Team size | 2, plus Area Manager and 2IC. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Site Crew
| About | Teams assist the contracted production and site team with preparing and keeping our festival site functioning on event. |
| Role | You’ll be working as part of a great team, doing any labouring jobs required including marking out camp areas, marking aisles and setting out chairs in venues, clearing up gum nuts, resetting chairs each morning and possibly some waste management. And when the party’s over – it’s time to do it all in reverse: stacking and counting chairs, cleaning and storing equipment, clearing the site and so on. |
| Attributes |
The work must all be completed within a limited time frame, so we need volunteers with a good level of fitness to ensure we complete all our setup goals in a timely manner. Setup and packup volunteers will be lifting, moving and walking a lot as part of their tasks. Previous experience in event site or production work is an advantage but not a necessity. Being flexible with a willingness to embrace a festival ‘get the job done’ attitude is essential for this rewarding work.
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| Team size | Up to 30 pre/post festival and 4 on-event, working for the Production and Site Managers. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum 18 hours (2 days) over the period Monday-Thursday pre-festival on setup, and/or the following Monday and Tuesday on bump-out, to qualify for Volunteer Ticket (9.00 am to 6.00 pm). Commit to an extra full day and you qualify for food truck vouchers to the value of $60 to spend at any of our fabulous food outlets over the festival! On event, work 2 x 3hr shifts on-call between 8.00 am to 11.00 am Saturday-Sunday. |
Staff Meals
| About | Team that provides catering for volunteers working pre-festival. |
| Role | The pre-festival team prepare morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for the enthusiastic army of contractors and volunteers onsite in the week before the festival. |
| Attributes | You need to be experienced in food preparation and service and be prepared to clean up afterwards. |
| Team size | 4 plus Area Manager. |
| Available hours | Work agreed shifts in the period Tuesday-Thursday pre-festival (10.00 am to 4.00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, 10.00 am to 10.00pm Thursday) |
Ticket Tent
| About | The Ticket Tent, located at the front gate handles the scanning of all arriving patrons’ tickets plus ticket sales ‘on the day’ and registrations for artists, markets and food vendors. |
| Role | A variety of stations for checking IDs and scanning tickets for visitors inside the Ticket Tent or Hand out wristbands and programs and be prepared to answer questions on ticketing and general festival information. |
| Attributes | You must have a professional attitude, welcoming smile, reasonably tech savvy and be prepared to work hard at busy times! Pre-festival training is mandatory. Minimum age 21. |
| Team size | Two teams of up to 4 each supported by their own Area Managers. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Tuesday – Sunday to qualify for Volunteer Ticket. |
Backlot
The Backlot is a dedicated area for youth. It’s got a magnificent stage, a lovely big arts space (YAS!) and a cool chill-out zone. Volunteers aged 14-17 can combine hours from both of the teams below.
Backlot Site Crew
| About | This team makes the bare Backlot space into your space! |
| Role | Help build a hangout in the Seedbox; set the backdrop for the stage and adorn the Youth Art Space with your own work of art! At the end of it all pack it all down with your new team of friends and help us prepare for next year… to do it all over again! |
| Attributes | Need to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get busy – there’s a lot to get done! This area is specifically for ages 14 – 17. You will need to get consent from your parent/guardian who will be attending the festival with you. |
| Team size | 4 to 6 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 4 shifts of 3 hours Thursday and Friday morning, then Monday. Normally combined with time in Youth Art Space. |
YAS Kweens
| About | Art Space hosts a number of creative workshops that work with reused and recycled materials to build some elaborate projects over the course of the weekend. |
| Role | Help the facilitators prepare an inspiring workspace and assist others to find their creative talent. |
| Attributes | Must enjoy assisting 13-18-year-olds to uncover their creative talents. If you are aged 14 – 17 and want to volunteer in this area, you will need to get consent from your parent/guardian who will be attending the festival with you. WWC Card required by all volunteers aged 18 and over. |
| Team size | 2 plus workshop coordinator in each workshop. |
| Available hours |
Work a minimum of 3 shifts of 3 hours between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon to qualify for Volunteer Ticket.
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For more information, contact our friendly team at volunteers@fairbridgefestival.com.au .