Volunteer

Volunteer applications for the 2024 Festival are closed.

Volunteering at the Festival

Volunteers are integral to the running of the Festival and in contributing a few hours of your time, you become part of the community that enables this Festival to happen.

The volunteer application process will utilise the web site, requiring volunteers to complete the online application form below indicating which roles and tasks you prefer. The volunteer committee will email information to the volunteers with designated tasks and duties.

The committee is open to enthusiastic individuals wanting to take on a greater role with the Folk Festival, so if you are keen to get more involved, talk to a committee member to see if there is a role that interests you. With committee changes, there is always room for more volunteers on the committee. We are always looking for volunteers for important tasks on the logistics team and decorating the town. Please consider assisting us as without our volunteer committee we do not have a festival. While the time is not huge or cumbersome other than the festival weekend, every little bit helps and these roles are essential if we want to keep the festival going. Please consider your availability for the dates of the folk festival, as it makes it difficult for the organisers if you end up withdrawing.

Volunteers will be wearing stylish vests at the Festival and we will have the pre-Festival get together and briefing on the Wednesday evening before the Festival.

For those who have volunteered before, thanks for signing up again, and for those who are first timers, welcome.

We would be asking volunteers to commit to at least 2 hours as a minimum and if wanting to do more, even better.

Volunteer Benefits

The committee have decided to reduce the number of hours to receive the 1/2 price and free ticket.

So Volunteers who complete a minimum 5 hours of volunteer work will receive a ½ price festival ticket. Volunteers who complete a minimum 10 hours of volunteer work will receive a free festival ticket.

Invitation to gathering after festival for volunteers (food and drink provided).

Volunteer Roles – General

Please indicate the specific job preferences when applying. We will endeavour to meet your preferences for the tasks and available time, but we may have gaps to fill, so may also make requests for certain jobs.

Venue Management
  • Coordinate artists, ticket checkers, and other volunteers at venue, and liaise with appropriate committee members as required.
  • Problem solve challenges as they arise, with committee members as required.
  • This role is usually done in conjunction with at least one other venue manager.
  • Ensuring clean and safe environment at venue for artists, audience, and volunteers.
MC
  • To introduce artists and make announcements as required.
  • Provide information during performer change overs with mention of sponsors, cleaning up rubbish as patrons leave a venue.
Venue Control
  • Be at entry points at venues (as per advice from venue manager and volunteer coordinator) to check patrons have Festival wristbands, and advise patrons when the venue is full.
  • Provide information to patrons and liaise with venue management for any specified tasks.
Festival office
  • Based at the Yack Community Centre (YCC) in the main street of Yackandandah opposite the Star Hotel, the site will include the ticketing section, merchandise and sales. Volunteers in the ticket office will have tasks, allocated by the ticket office coordinator, relating to these activities.
Logistics
  • Assist the logistics team in set up of venues, such as marquee, stage, chairs, toilets and rubbish.
  • Assist with packing up at end of Festival
  • Please be aware many of the tasks associated with logistics are required to be completed during the day on the Friday, and after the last act on the Sunday.
Green Room Attendants
  • Assist with set up of food and refreshments for performers at the green room.
  • Provide supervision for instruments
  • Liaise with YFF committee (e.g. volunteer coordinator) to resolve challenges and questions from artists and other volunteers.
Green Team
  • Maximising reclamation of recyclable material and green waste, reducing overall general waste sent to landfill following the festival.
  • Recycling and waste management.
Car Parking
  • Assist with directing and managing festival car parking areas
Youth Stage
  • This venue, located in the main street, is designed predominantly for young people. Tasks may include; assist with set up of the stage, decorations, sound technician training and assist, venue management and control, etc.
  • Liaising with the Youth Stage coordinator.
Children’s Activities
  • During the Saturday and Sunday of the festival free activities are offered and coordinated by volunteers in conjunction with committee members and the Children’s Activities coordinator.
  • The Activities coordinator will design activities and all equipment and products will be provided (activities may be musical, art/craft, games etc)

PLEASE NOTE: all volunteers who would like to assist with children’s activities will need to show evidence of a current Victorian Working with Children’s Check.

Volunteer Roles – Event Logistics & Management

As the event continues to grow each year, we now find ourselves needing to recruit some new people to help us in both in the lead up to, during and in some cases, after the festival to assist us in covering some very important roles as detailed below. Some of the larger roles may suit a job share arrangement between friends or couples. Even if you have zero prior experience, don’t let this put you off applying as one of our very knowledgeable members will be happy to assist you and equip you with the necessary information to make your time over the weekend enjoyable. We should clarify that you don’t need to be a member of the organising committee to do these jobs, although we would welcome new members who live locally. 

RoleEvent Logistics Manager
DescriptionProvide oversight and leadership for YFF Logistics
Must be a member of the YFF Organising Committee
Ensure tasks for event are completed on time.
Coordinate Logistics Team members and ensure tasks are completed. 
Monitor event timeline and address issues as they arise
Est. hoursTo Be Advised
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleEquipment booking officer
DescriptionUndertake booking of contractors
Act as liaison for contractors
Confirm bookings in lead up to event
Coordinate arrival schedule with contractors and advise bump-in coordinatorHandle invoices and forward to Treasurer for payment
Est. hours20 hours (Mostly prior to event)
Benefit To Be Advised
RoleDuty Logistics Managers (x3)Yackandandah locals preferred
DescriptionRostered role over the YFF weekend
Monitor Logistics Duty Phone and act as point-of-contact
Problem solve logistics problems as they arise
Handover to on-coming logistics manager
Est. hours10 hours per manager (over Festival weekend)
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleCamping logistics & Parking coordinator
DescriptionLiaise with camping sites (YSP and YFNC) for camping requirements
Complete MoUs for camping
Ensure arrangements for rostering, site access, mowing etc. and met prior to event
Monitor sites over the weekend and address any issues as they arise
Coordinate parking sites for the event weekend
Est. hours20 hours (Half prior to event/half over Festival weekend)
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleSet-up coordinator
DescriptionLead logistics volunteer team and assign roles/activities in the set-up of the festival sites.
Liaise with Head Venue Managers during set and provide logistic team support where required
Coordinate with contractors to assist with site set up
Monitor progress of event set up and anticipate any issues
Advise Event Manager of any issues arising
Est. hours10-15 hours (Wed, Thu and Friday prior to event)
Benefit2 x Free weekend tickets to YFF 2024.
RolePack down coordinator
DescriptionLead logistics volunteer team and assign roles/activities in the pack down of the festival sites
Coordinate with contractors to assist with site pack down
Monitor progress of event pack down and anticipate any issues
Advise Event Manager of any issues arising
Est. hours10-15 hours (Sunday PM and Monday post event)
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Ticket to YFF 2024.
RoleHealth & Safety Officer
DescriptionCoordinate contracted requirements for:
Road Closure (GAME)
First Aid (St John Ambulance)
Security (MasterKing)
Contracted cleaning
Ensure the following:
Water availability points
Toilets are cleaned as per agreements (contractor to clean)
Monitor and act on:
Weather conditions (e.g. Bushfire, Storm, flooding)
Health & Safety issues as the arise
Act as Liaison with Emergency Services as needed:
CFA
VicPol
SES
Ambulance Victoria
PLI Insurance from contractors
Est. hours20-30 hours (10-15 prior to weekend, approx. 10-15 over festival weekend
Benefit3 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleCouncil Laison
DescriptionCoordinate with Indigo Shire Council for Event Management Plans
Complete event management documentation as required by ISC
Inform Event Manager of progress of ISC requirements
Book Events Trailer from ISC
Arrange delivery/collection of Event Trailer and return at completion of event  
Est. hours15-20 hours
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleVenues Coordinator
DescriptionLiaise with YFF venues:
Undertake booking of event venues with relevant bodies/businesses 
Coordinate completion of MoUs
Coordinate invoicing and forward to Treasurer for payment
Confirm access requirements prior to event
Ensure venues and cleaned and keys returned post event
Coordinate with Decorations Team Leader for access and requirements prior to event
Est. hours15-20 hours
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleHead Venue Managers/ co managers
DescriptionLead Management of assigned venue
Coordinate set-up of the venue prior to the event
Lead and assist to Duty Venue managers over the weekend.
Coordinate and assist with pack down of venue following the event
Liaise with volunteers as they attend for duties at venue
Est. hours15-20 hours
Benefit2 x Free Weekend Tickets to YFF 2024
RoleSignage coordinator
DescriptionInstall corflute signage from Thursday prior to event
Maintain a map plan of all signage locations
Coordinate production of new signage as needed and invoice to YFF
Collect signage following event and return to storage
Est. hoursTo Be Advised
Benefit To Be Advised
RoleMain Street /Street Stage Manager
DescriptionAssist Main Street Manager with various tasks following stage setup and venue managing Friday night only.
Liaise with Youth Program Coordinator.
Liaise with Street Parade Coordinator on Friday evening.
Est. hoursTo Be Advised
BenefitTo Be Advised
RoleFood & Beverage Assistant Manager
DescriptionAssist the Food and Beverage manager with coordinating Food Court vendors and Bar Services providers.
Liaise with Local community/sporting clubs running food stalls on Friday night. 
Est. hoursTo Be Advised
BenefitTo Be Advised
RoleGreen Team Coordinators x 2 
DescriptionManagement of waste and sustainability over the festival weekend
Setup of bin locations & signage (Friday of festival)
Coordination of Dish Pig wash-trailer
Liaison with food stalls prior to festival regarding use of the Dish Pig
Liaison via school with market stall holders regarding expectations of Sunday market & waste
Rostering and oversite of volunteers rostered onto the Green Team over the festival weekend
Coordination of reusable cup system & liaison with bars as required (setup of MOU’s etc)
Consideration of how YFF can further improve in managing waste & sustainability across the festival 
Est. hours Approx 10 hours prior to festival (1 person)30 hours across festival weekend (split across 2 people= 15 hours each)
BenefitTo Be Advised

Volunteer applications for the 2024 Festival are closed.