Photo courtesy Ted Dana
General information
- A minimum age of 18 applies for volunteers in most areas, except where specifically shown.
- Adults on shift may be accompanied by their children; provided the child is older than 14 and prior approval has been given by the relevant Area Manager.
- For further details of any position, contact the appropriate Area Manager. You’ll find their details at fairbridgefestival.com.au/wp/about/theteam/
▶ Artist services
One of the most important tasks at the festival is to look after our artists! It's a pretty big job, so we've broken it down into four teams: transporting artists from the airport to the festival and back again; artist check-in; instrument lock-up and transport service; and a general green room and assistance service. Each of these teams is run by a dedicated area manager –you can find their details at fairbridgefestival.com.au/wp/about/theteam/
| 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 onsite supervisor |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Artist transport
| About | An airport transfer service for national and international artists arriving at Perth Airport. You will meet and greet people arriving during an agreed time window and then either accompany the bus transport or drive them to the festival in your own car. |
| Role | Act as a taxi driver carrying one or more artists between Perth Airport and the festival. |
| Attributes | Knowledge of terminal locations at Perth airport. Super reliable, extremely flexible and able to drive artist(s) to and from the festival at agreed times. This may include leaving the festival grounds during the festival for a return trip to the airport. Must have a reliable insured vehicle that’s large enough to hold the artist/s, their luggage and instruments. Drivers must be 25 yrs or older with a current full licence. Proof of insurance and licence needs to be presented upon confirmation to the area manager. |
| Team size | 1 |
| Available hours | Any time between Thursday evening and Tuesday morning You will be credited 3 hours for each trip. Confirmation of exact pick-up/drop-off times at the airport are not available until closer to the event. |
| Contact | Please register your interest with our area manager Andrea Beck at andrea.beck@bigpond.com Please note: your registration is not a guarantee of a confirmed position. |
▶ Campsite monitors
| About | Monitors are located at the entrance to each of the festival camping areas during the main arrival period on 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 supervisor |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours on Friday. |
▶ Children’s festival
Our Children’s program caters for younger kids under the age of 13. Volunteers work alongside facilitators, who plan specific activities, in various key areas.
Paper Scissors Rock
| About | This is our famous children’s 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. |
| 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 midst of the kid’s area providing face painting for up to 8 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 parent or legal guardian will need to contact the Volunteer Manager before the festival. |
| Team size | 8 plus Area Coordinator |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
Kids in the kitchen cooking classes
| About | Kids (7-13 years) prepare a range of simple, healthy meals and snacks in one of the village kitchens. |
| Role | Assist the coordinator to run the class by preparing the venue and food, looking after the cooks – and cleaning up afterwards. |
| Attributes | Must enjoy helping young children in the kitchen, and washing up! |
| Team size | 2 plus Area Coordinator |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
The Woodshed
| About | The little Woodshed venue allows kids to hone their constructional talents making stuff out of wood. |
| Role | Keep order and assist children and their parents in constructing wooden masterpieces. |
| Attributes | Impervious to chaos as the Woodshed can be busy and noisy but a lot of fun! |
| Team size | 2 |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Cleaning and waste management
Our essential cleaning teams are split between table cleaning; helping patrons recycle their waste correctly; ensuring the rubbish bins are emptied before they overflow; and sorting discarded waste to ensure the right stuff ends up in the right bins.
Table Cleaning ‘Table Top Troopers’
| About | This team of volunteers keeps the catering areas, Gus’s Bar, the Garden Bar and the Ruby’s venue clean and tidy. |
| 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 good with people, outgoing, organised and able to multi-task and keep a cool head. Table Top 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 |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period early morning to late evening. |
Resource recovery ‘Bin Fairies’
| About | This is a critical area in keeping the festival fresh and participants happy. Mandatory training is provided pre- and on-event |
| Role | To assist patrons in the dining areas to recover as much compostable and recyclable material as possible by ensuring they’re correctly separated. You will also be swapping out near full bins for empty bins from the bin compound. |
| Attributes | You will enjoy chatting to people at the bin stations and helping them achieve our goals of minimising waste. Wear closed-toe shoes, a feather boa or a fancy hat, or almost anything bright and colourful that a Bin Fairy might wear. Disposable gloves are provided. |
| Team size | 8, spread between four main areas |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over mealtimes. |
Waste management team
| About | Ensure that bins don’t overflow and cause a mess. |
| Role | A two-person team that regularly monitors the status of bins in an assigned area of the festival. When any bin in your area is ¾ full, you are responsible for organising a swap out by the production crew with a new empty bin from the bin compound. |
| Attributes | Available all weekend and happy to keep checking your supply of bins and moving them when necessary. |
| Team size | 2 – Ideal for two friends or a couple. |
| Available hours | Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon as required with no set roster. Simply keep an eye on your bins, and if they don’t need emptying you’re free to go and enjoy the music! |
Waste stream sorting 'Bindicoots'
| About | There’s no such thing as rubbish! The target is separated and saleable (because there’s no contamination from other stuff) recyclables – plastic, glass and tin; clean food waste that can go to the village worm farm; and a reduced volume of general rubbish. Outcome: tonnes of stuff saved from being dumped into landfill. |
| Role | Bins from across the festival site are emptied into giant skips and anything that’s ended up in the wrong bin is picked out. |
| Attributes | Prepared to get in amongst it! Needs closed in shoes. Gloves provided. |
| Team size | 4, working in the bin compound under the guidance of our veteran waste stream managers. |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period. |
▶ Comperes
| About | Each of our MCs or Comperes generally works in a single venue over the weekend to introduce acts, thank our sponsors and make any important announcements. There are a limited number of positions. Please apply using the form at Apply > Comperes. If you’re interested please contact Ros Barnes at ros.barnes@iinet.net.au |
▶ Entry / gate teams
| About | Work at the entrance to Fairbridge Village to manage all arrivals – festival patrons, stall holders, village staff etc. |
| Role | Traffic team After training in our traffic management system you will marshal incoming vehicles into different lanes depending on their ticket type and ensure incoming and outgoing traffic moves through as quickly as possible. Gate A (entry gate) team First contact point for all arrivals at the festival. Help maintain efficient entry to the festival including service vehicles, village and festival staff by checking intended destinations and tickets. Parking team Direct cars that need to park outside the village, either as day visitors or to visit the Ticket Tent. |
| Attributes | Suits people with a love of people, a huge smiley disposition and an ability to think on their feet and keep the queues to a minimum. |
| Team size | 2-4 plus onsite supervisor depending on which team and time of day |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Festival HQ
| About | Festival HQ deals with all operational issues and is co-located with the production team. |
| Role | Deal with all manner of enquiries both from walk-ins and by phone, lost property, lost children etc. |
| Attributes | Friendly and calm disposition needed with good people skills. Knowledge of radio operations, familiarity of the festival site, and the ability to multi-task would be a huge advantage. To work in this area, please contact the General Manager event@fairbridgefestival.com.au |
| Team size | 2 |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the days before and during the festival. |
▶ Festival markets
| About | The 65 or so market traders are an important part of the festival and efficient management is essential to the operation of this area. |
| Role | You will support the Markets Manager in placement of site markers, allocation of hire equipment, checking documentation and compliance, directing stallholders to market 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 | 4 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Festival shop
| About | The shop sells merchandise including T-Shirts, souvenirs plus artists’ CDs. |
| Role | Sales team member selling a wide range of 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 | 5 plus 2 x Area Managers |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Hospitality
| About | Provide basic services for artists and other guests staying in all the cottages. |
| Role | Prepare linen supplies for those in cottage accommodation. |
| Attributes | Self-reliant and organised. |
| Team size | 2-3 |
| Available hours | Primarily Thursday and Friday morning pre-festival with some on-call work during the event. Must be available until noon on Monday to assist in cottage cleaning. |
Instrument scheduling and lock up
| 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 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. See the booking system for full details. |
▶ Instrument scheduling and lock up
| 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 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Raffle ticket sales
Do you have the gift of the gab, and enjoy talking to people? Our raffle prizes of a fabulous Scott Wise guitar, a Getaway Outdoors camping package including tickets to the 2018 Fairbridge Festival, a season camping ticket to the Woodford Folk Festival (QLD) and a $1,000 voucher for Zenith Music almost sells itself. A proportion of the revenue raised goes to The Quest Songwriting Competition
| About | Sell tickets to raise funds for the festival and The Quest |
| Role | Raffle volunteers are expected to sell at least six books of tickets (each book contains 20 tickets at $5 each), during the festival weekend. There are incentives for those who sell more than 8 books. |
| Attributes | Confidence in your ability to sell sufficient tickets |
| Team size | Solo, or with friends |
| Available hours | You can sell tickets anywhere at the festival from opening time 10.00 am Friday but must stop by 5.00 pm Sunday to allow time for your ticket stubs to be prepared for the draw that evening. You must contact the Raffle Coordinator prior to signing up for this area, see Working as a volunteer for more detail. |
▶ Street team
| About | A team of volunteers working from before Christmas through to around March to ‘spread the word’ by distributing flyers and posters. |
| Role | Place brochures and posters in your local area: shopping centres, libraries, schools, cafes etc. – anywhere you go that other people go to. Also help out promoting the festival from a stall at set community festival days or farmer’s markets around the metro area. Must complete a timesheet to demonstrate hours worked. |
| Attributes | Self-reliant and outgoing. We’re only too happy to hear any creative ideas you might have to get the word out there. |
| Team size | Individually, with a partner or as a team at larger events |
| Available hours | Work a minimum 24 hours pre-festival to qualify for free entry and discretionary free camping. Contact our Street Team Coordinator. Contact Sarah at sarah@musicalkitestring.com |
▶ Site set-up, bump-out and on-event maintenance
| About | Teams assist the contracted production team with preparing and operating the festival site. |
| Role | You’ll be working as part of a great team, doing any labouring jobs required including laying down and pegging shade cloth in marquees, marking aisles and setting out chairs, clearing up gum nuts, resetting chairs each morning and 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 | Rewarding work but it can sometimes be quite physical. Experience in event site or production work an advantage but not a necessity. Being on call and a willingness to embrace a festival ‘get the job done’ attitude is essential. |
| Team size | Up to 15 pre-festival and 4 on-event, working for the Production Manager. |
| Available hours | Work a minimum 21 hours (2 days) over the period Monday-Thursday pre-festival and the following Tuesday to qualify for free entry (7.00 am to 5.00 pm). On event, work 2 x 6hr shifts on-call between 8.00 am to 2.00 pm Saturday-Sunday. |
▶ Site signage and decoration
| About | Teams prepare the festival site in the days before the event. |
| Role | Two teams that
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| Attributes | Must be physically capable, energetic, cheerful and available pre-festival and post-festival. |
| Team size | Up to 8 plus 2 Area Managers |
| Available hours | Work a minimum 21 hours (2 days) over the period Monday-Thursday pre festival and the following Monday to qualify for free entry. |
▶ Staff meals and 720 ABC Breakfast
| About | Two teams that provide catering for volunteers working pre-festival and for the breakfast that accompanies the 720 ABC broadcast early Saturday morning. Based in the large kitchen in Fairbridge House and Club West verandah. |
| Role | The pre-festival team prepares morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for the growing army of contractors and volunteers onsite in the week before the festival. The breakfast team lay on a magnificent breakfast buffet. Some local purchasing is also often required. |
| Attributes | You need to be experienced in food preparation and service and be prepared to clean up afterwards. |
| Team size | 6 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) and 4.00 am to 7.00 am Saturday |
▶ Stage managers
| About | You’ll be in charge of a venue. |
| Role | Ensure the performers run to time and liaise between artists, compere, sound crew and festival staff such as instrument transport and on-event maintenance. Ensure that backstage and front of house areas are tidy and safe, and coordinate action in case of any emergency. There are a limited number of positions – if you’re interested please contact Kelly Ashley our Stage Manager coordinator |
| Available hours |
Stage Managers tend to work in one venue throughout the weekend.
Adult and youth venues
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▶ Ticket tent
| About | The Ticket Tent at the front gate handles the scanning of all arriving patrons’ tickets plus ticket sales ‘on the day’ and registrations for artists, market stall vendors and caterers. |
| Role | Check IDs and scan tickets of arriving visitors in their cars outside, or of artists, vendors etc. inside the Ticket Tent. Hand out wristbands and programs, and be prepared to answer questions on ticketing. |
| Attributes | You must have a professional attitude, welcoming smile and be prepared to work hard at busy times! Pre-festival training is mandatory. Minimum age 21. |
| Team size | Two teams, of up to 12 (visitors arriving by car) and 6 (inside the tent) each supported by their own Area Managers. |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. |
▶ Volunteer Central
| About | All volunteers register here before starting work and receive their volunteer packs. Remaining volunteer vacancies are advertised and existing volunteers can come here for assistance. Volunteer Central also provides a phone-charging service and sells raffle tickets. |
| Role | To provide a resource for all volunteers. A central location where vacancies are advertised and a quick response provided to all areas requesting help. Volunteer Central also provides a help and information service to festival goers. |
| Attributes | You must have a welcoming smile and be prepared to do a range of different tasks. If you are aged 15-17 and want to volunteer in this area to assist with our phone charging service, your parent or legal guardian will need to contact the Volunteer Manager before the festival. |
| Team size | 2-3 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the period Thursday - Sunday. |
▶ Backlot
Youth Art Space
Our youth program caters for young people aged 13+ in a separate area of the festival site. Volunteers work alongside facilitators, who plan specific activities, in various key areas. Volunteers can be 15 or over (15-17 must have approval prior to registering) and can combine hours in Art Space and setup.| 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 find their creative talents. If you are aged 15 - 17 and want to volunteer in this area, your parent or legal guardian will need to contact the Volunteer Manager before the festival. |
| Team size | 2 plus workshop coordinator in each of 3 parallel workshops. |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. Contact Nat at nnivison@hotmail.com |
Youthopia Set-up and Pack-up Team
| About | This team makes the bare Youth space into your space! |
| Role | Help build a hangout in the Seedbox; set the backdrop for the stage and adorn the 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 | If you are aged 15 - 17 and want to volunteer in this area, your parent or legal guardian will need to contact the Volunteer Manager before the festival. |
| Team size | 2 to 4 plus Area Manager |
| Available hours | Work 3 shifts of 3 hours over the weekend. Can be combined with time in Art Space. |