Volunteer With Us

Volunteer Role Descriptions

Volunteers are the face of all Midsumma’s celebrations and are the ones who greet attendees, collect donations, and assist in ensuring crowds are happy and safe.

There are plenty of roles on offer. The roles will vary depending on the event's requirements.

We are seeking volunteers in the following areas:

Participant Check In
Check in all the participants who are part of the Pride March. This includes signing them in, distributing wristbands, crowd control, keeping the space clean and safe, and answering participants’ questions.

Wristbanding Warriors
Distribute wristbands to anyone over 18 years of age who wishes to visit the Midsumma Bars at Carnival and Pride March. Also includes being stationed outside the fences of the bar area ensuring that only those with a wristband can enter the bar area.

Audience, Vehicle & Wave Marshals
Marshals make sure the Pride March runs smoothly all the way from Ian Johnson Oval to Catani Gardens. Your role will assist in escorting waves and groups down the marching route and communicating on radio with other team members. These roles help manage the safety of both audience and participants and are integral to the event operations. 

Accessibility Champions
Welcome and assist patrons with accessibility needs arriving and leaving Midsumma’s events, as well as throughout the day. Answer any specific questions regarding accessibility and make sure everyone is enjoying the events.   

Survey & Donations Team
Main task is to welcome attendees and participants and ask for their time to fill out a brief survey or collect donations from patrons with our Donation Buckets. This helps us improve Midsumma’s future events.  

Volunteer Headquarters / Workforce Tent
Where all staff and volunteers start and end their shifts. Requires checking in all staff and volunteers and distributing the correct accreditations and 2-way radios if required.

Ushers, Wayfinders & Information Providers
Many Midsumma events will require ushers to welcome visitors and support patrons by providing answers to questions regarding the festival site, where things are located, the program, lost property, how to donate and more.

Team Leaders
Working closely with the Volunteers Coordinator, Team Leaders will oversee a group of volunteers across many different departments and events during the festival. This role will entail a higher level of responsibility and be integral to assisting volunteer operations. 

Production Support
Working closely with our Production Team you will be helping behind the scenes to make sure our events run smoothly and on time. This could include assisting the stage managers, artist runners or backstage team. 

Site Set Up & Pack Down
Be part of our Production and Site Crew in bumping in/getting the site ready for the events. This includes setting up signage, marquees, tables & chairs, traffic/parking barriers, picking up and distributing equipment, assisting all stallholders, and making sure the site looks perfect before attendees arrive. This can also include pack down/bump out after all attendees have left.

Bar & Hospitality
Help out at the fabulous bars at Midsumma Carnival and Midsumma Pride March. You will require a valid Victorian RSA to fulfill this role. 

Office & Project Administration
Periodically, there will be a need for volunteers to assist with office administration. This can include, printing, photocopying, and laminating as well as organising signage, stationary, and other office equipment, and usually takes place in the Midsumma office prior to event days.

Please note some volunteer roles require a valid Working With Children Check. This can be obtained for free for volunteers.

1. What Midsumma Festival agrees to provide you

In order to enhance your experience, Midsumma Festival will:

• Provide you with orientation and induction
• Ensure you have fun and meet people
• Provide you with a healthy and safe workplace
• Provide insurance coverage for you, whilst you are acting as a Midsumma Festival volunteer
• Define your roles and develop clear job descriptions
• Provide appropriate levels of support and management for you
• Ensure your work complements but does not undermine the work of core staff
• Respect you as a valuable team member
• Acknowledge and value your contributions
• Provide clear conflict resolution processes
• Extend an invitation to the festival wrap party
• Adhere to the guidelines set out by Volunteering Victoria

Midsumma Festival reserves the right to select the people who will best represent the organisation, and to assign people to particular roles and duties as felt appropriate.

2. Your rights as a volunteer

• To be respected and treated as a co-worker and to not be exploited
• To have access to training sessions where appropriate and possible
• To have on-the-job supervision provided by a designated member of staff or Team Leader volunteer
• To have the necessary support and direction in order to carry out designated duties
• To be entitled to take breaks from their volunteer work, when appropriate and as agreed
• To be able to contact the Volunteers Coordinator at any time during the festival with concerns, questions or indeed anything to do with being a part of the festival
  
  

3. In order to enhance the festival, volunteers will:

• Start at the scheduled time, and be dressed and groomed appropriately
• Wear the festival t-shirt and accreditation when on-shift
• Be asked to carry out specific duties to the best of their ability
• Respect the authority of, and decisions made by, Midsumma CEO and staff
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the festival
• Be honest and reliable
• Adhere to and follow policy, procedure and guidelines including WHS
• Adhere to all Midsumma Festival health and safety policies and procedures
• Not smoke or consume alcohol/illegal drugs while in your festival t-shirt
• Not be affected by alcohol or drugs in any way whilst undertaking shifts
• Not undertake shifts if unwell or showing any symptoms of a communicable illness
• Be conscious of the sustainability of our environment

3.1 Punctuality

We request that volunteers are punctual. If an unforeseen situation arises whereby a volunteer will be late please contact the Volunteers Coordinator so other arrangements can be made.

3.2 Attendance

If you are unable to attend your shift, please notify the Volunteers Coordinator as soon as possible so that a replacement can be organised.

3.3 Etiquette

All volunteers are representatives of Midsumma Festival, and as such must be professional, courteous and respectful to the public to each other and to other Midsumma representatives at all times.

3.4 Dress Code

Volunteers are supplied with the appropriate means of identification. This may take the form of a t-shirt and/or accreditation lanyard. All volunteers are required to wear such items during the time of their shift. When not on shift these items must be removed or covered. Attire must be appropriate for the task you are undertaking, please refer to the shift brief for any specific requirements.

3.5 Drugs & Alcohol

The use of alcohol and drugs are prohibited whilst working your shift. Any volunteer found to be under the influence will be retired for the duration of the event and disciplinary action may be taken.

3.6 Confidentiality

Occasionally volunteers will be privy to confidential information of the festival. Volunteers must not divulge this information to other parties under any circumstances, either during the term of volunteering or after ceasing as a volunteer.

3.7 No Remuneration

You agree that any work you perform for Midsumma Festival is on a voluntary, unpaid basis and you will not be entitled to any remuneration benefits however described.

3.8 Paid Employment

Volunteer work for Midsumma Festival is not a prerequisite for paid employment and volunteering does not guarantee a paid position.

3.9 Media

Volunteers are not authorised to speak to the media on Midsumma Festival's behalf.  Any requests by the media must be directed to the Midsumma Marketing & Communications Manager.

3.10 Conflict Resolution

Midsumma Festival is committed to resolving any conflict to the satisfaction of all parties. Please direct any conflicts to the Volunteers Coordinator in the first instance. If the conflict involves this person, please direct the issue to the Midsumma Chief Executive. The issues, discussions and resolution achieved will be recorded in writing and a letter confirming the outcome of the meeting will be sent to all parties involved.

3.11 Sign-on

Sign on/off forms must be completed at the start and end of every shift, to aid us in accurately reporting on the person-hours required to produce the event. Volunteer hours are recorded for insurance purposes and to assist with the collection of statistical data in support of funding applications. Volunteers will also be required to successfully complete a health questionnaire to start each shift on Deputy, our roster system. Please ensure you complete a registration / time sheet.

3.12 Termination

Where the conduct or behaviour of a volunteer places the health or safety of another person at risk, results in any illegal activity or contravenes Midsumma’s Code of Conduct that volunteer's involvement in the festival may be immediately terminated by the Volunteers Coordinator or Midsumma Festival staff.

3.13 Privacy Statement

By registration, you agree to us collecting the personal information you provide. This information will generally be used solely by Midsumma Festival Inc. for the purposes of ensuring that we assign you to an appropriate volunteer position, for contacting you regarding events during the festival, and maintaining health and safety records for all volunteers.  We may give this information to third parties, but only where we are required by law to do so or the information is needed for operational purposes. You have the right to request details, or amend any personal information that Midsumma Festival holds about you by contacting Midsumma Festival Inc. at any time.

3.14 Health & Safety

Midsumma Festival is committed to providing a safe working environment for all its volunteers and will provide relevant induction sessions in relation to event-specific health and safety issues. Volunteers are obligated to act responsibly with regards to health and safety as outlined in the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations. Midsumma Festival's Occupational Health & Safety Policy & Procedure are available on request, please contact the Volunteers Coordinator.

3.15 Recognition of Volunteer Dedication

Midsumma Festival thanks and acknowledges the contributions and achievements of our volunteers and recognises that the festival could not happen if not for your dedication and commitment. Midsumma Festival shows its appreciation by extending an invitation to attend the Midsumma Wrap Party for volunteers, artists and staff. The festival can provide all registered volunteers with a digital certificate of participation upon request.

3.16 Certification

Some roles undertaken by volunteers require by law a professional certification or compliance card. If you hold a Victorian Working With Children's Check, Responsible Service of Alcohol, or First Aid Certificate, please provide a copy to us.

3.17 Other Terms and Conditions

Midsumma Festival has and may introduce, a number of policies and procedures to assist it to produce the festival, comply with its legal obligations and support those working for it. By signing this agreement, you agree to be bound by, and to comply with, these policies and procedures as amended from time to time.

Midsumma Festival welcomes volunteers of all ages, however, if you are under 18 we will need to have a parent or guardian co-sign the Volunteer Agreement (for under-age volunteers), and then return it to the Volunteers Coordinator c/- [email protected].