APPLICATIONS FOR RETURNING VOLUNTEERS OPEN AT MIDDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER AND FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS AT MIDDAY ON 1ST OCTOBER.
Two thirds of the volunteers each year are returning festival volunteers, testament to the fact that it’s an experience you will never forget. It’s an opportunity to meet new people from all over Australia and the world, be part of a passionate community and it can also be a more affordable way of participating in the festival.
More than 2,700 volunteers help transform the 500-acre site at Woodfordia, one hour’s drive north of Brisbane, into a fully functioning pop-up town the size of a regional centre like Lismore or Nambour. Once it’s set up, Woodfordia becomes the 67th largest town in Australia.
It’s no small project, and our volunteers make a significant contribution to the build, operation and spirit of the Woodford Folk Festival. We simply could not do it without them.
As a volunteer, you can expect to donate approximately 5-6 hours of your time each day in exchange for a full festival ticket with crew camping, leaving you plenty of time to explore the rest of the festival. Your days will vary, depending on the area in which you volunteer and whether you are volunteering during the build or the festival.
Volunteering during the build is a longer commitment, roughly 2 weeks pre-festival and 3 to 7 days post-festival. For this important contribution, these volunteers get the thrill of creating the festival village and being fed delicious food in our Volunteers’ Kitchen, as well as a full festival ticket and crew camping.
All of our volunteers also receive a clay medallion, recently made by our Winter Warmer volunteers, as a small token of our gratitude.
The options for volunteering are endless, with over 300 different types of roles from customer service to working with children, greeting patrons at the gates or pouring drinks behind the bars. About 20% of positions are dedicated to behind-the-scenes operations, ensuring our performers are well taken care of.
Some positions require special skills or tickets eg: costume and prop makers; lighting designers; electricians; plumbers. Those with a carpentry trade under their belt are needed to help us build facades, sets and the unique installations you find around the site.
We welcome safe drivers over the age of 25 to be part of the logistics crew who are responsible for tasks like picking up artists at the airport and delivering essentials to amenities blocks.
Leadership opportunities are also available.
Our organisers will do their best to notify successful applicants within two weeks.
For more information, contact Citizenship, Department Heads & Volunteers Manager Karen McBride: volunteers@woodfordfolkfestival.com
