Volunteers

Information

Volunteer applications for the 4th New England Garden Festival are now open.

Individuals - Apply to Volunteer here

Volunteers have made the New England Garden Festival possible for 3 years now. The generosity and hard work of volunteers contribute year after year to a successful friendly and safe festival environment, and to the funds raised to make life easier for those in need. 

Why volunteer at the New England Garden Festival?

• Receive a full weekend pass in exchange for 12 hrs of volunteer work or a day pass for up to 1 day of volunteer work. 

• Receive a volunteer lanyard.

• Meet and work with like-minded people who are enthusiastic and passionate about participating in a community event and contributing to the smooth running of the festival.

• We can write you a reference upon request once you have volunteered with us.

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Local Community Organisations with an ABN can fundraise through volunteering at our festival.

Community Service Organisations - Apply to Volunteer here

Register your community organisation’s interest in sending a team to run the garden gate, run a food stall, or cover one or more of the volunteer roles and we will compensate your organisation for the total hours worked by your volunteers.

Note: To register, your organisation must be incorporated and have a current ABN.

For further information, email: volunteers@negf,com.au

 

Volunteer roles​

• Festival Set Up (Thursday/Friday am)/Pull Down Team (Sunday pm)– site works.

• Festival Gate Welcome Team – Welcoming patrons through gates and checking wristbands. (Saturday 9 – 4pm and Sunday 9 – 2 pm)

• Festival Information – guide and inform visitors, setting up displays and sales.

• Raffle Team – Support our entry points, manage ticket sales, or run the raffle

• NEGF Plant Stall – sell donated plants to festival visitors

• Parking Team – Marshall the parking area.

• Kids Area – help decorate the Kids Area and guide children through craft activities and encourage their artistic spirit (Working with Children’s Check required).

• Open Garden Gates – Welcome, manage online ticket and cash entry, and record attendance (2-3 hour shift at open gardens TBA)

• Market Stall Management - Help direct traffic, assist stallholders, and ensure a smooth flow of vehicles and people during bump-in and bump-out.

• MC and Communications team – MC’ing and sharing information.

• Green Team – Cleanliness, minimise waste to landfill.

• Performer Team – Welcome, Check-In & assist performers, workshop presenters and speakers.

• Pre-Festival Admin – Computer or management skills required.

• Venue Decoration – Artistic flare welcomed.

• Volunteer Team – Registering & directing volunteers.

You could also help in other ways:

• NEGF Recycled Tools Stall Donate unwanted tools from your shed and deliver them to the drop off point by Wednesday 28th October (address TBA)

• NEGF Plant Stall - Pot up some cuttings and deliver them to the stall on Friday 30th October afternoon

• NEGF Book Stall - Donate your unwanted gardening books to Armidale Rotary Book Exchange by Wednesday 28th October and we will collect them for the stall.

• Your suggestion?

Note: A Working With Children Check (WWCC) is required if you wish to volunteer with children’s activities. You can obtain a free volunteer WWCC here.

Our volunteers bring a variety of skills and experience to the festival, with and without formal qualifications.

Expectations

All volunteers must:

• Display a respectful, friendly and approachable manner

• Show respect and acceptance to all, ensuring everyone an enjoyable and safe experience by embracing diversity regardless of race, age, religion, appearance, gender or sexuality

• Contribute to a positive working environment free of intimidation, bullying, ridicule, harassment and abuse

• Support and promote a sense of community where every contribution helps create the friendly festival environment we aim to continue fostering

• Communicate clearly and with respect

• Comply at all times with our policies

• Comply with current NSW Government regulations

• Show up on time to enthusiastically carry out allocated tasks

Please remember that:

• Individuals are accountable for their own actions and must act in accordance with the Human Rights Act 2004 and our Code of Conduct

• Volunteers should be mindful of, and responsive to, situations/issues that require attention and use sound judgment and critical thinking to recognise and resolve issues that can be resolved or reporting any issues necessary to the Volunteer Team Leaders 

• Volunteers with previous festival volunteering experience and suitable availability will be given priority during the selection process

• In keeping with our family friendly festival & safety regulations, we do not permit consumption of alcohol, drugs or smoking on the festival site

Apply here - link to form

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