5 ways to volunteer your way to the Birdsville Races
They say the best things in life are free – but none more so than free entry to Australia’s most iconic outback race meet, the Birdsville Races.
Save your pennies to splurge trackside rather than on entry-fees to Birdsville‘s most famous day at the track, by volunteering your way to this bucket-list event.
It’s one helluva perky gig when you add it all up, with free entry to the races (both days), an exclusive vantage point to watch the races, and a swag full of free merchandise to remember the day.
With approximately 65 volunteer positions, check out these ways you can give back to the Birdsville community and experience the iconic desert race.
1. Meet the locals + 6,000 others
Are you the kind of person who loves meeting new people, having a yarn and getting to know people from all walks of life?
If you answered yes to any of the above, it’s time to don a bright shirt and join the Marshals and Gate Staff team.
This team of vollies are responsible for overseeing thousands of racegoers through the gates, ensuring they have a good time, and offering directions.
Consider yourself a concierge to the races.
With a variety of shifts and roles, there are plenty of opportunities to complete the required hours (12 hours), leaving enough time to catch up with your mates for bevvies at the end of play.
Volunteer Requirements: A friendly attitude and ability to stand for long periods of time.
2. See Birdsville before and after the races
The sign on the entry to Birdsville is an indicator of how much this small country town can change in one weekend.
“Birdsville Population 100, except for one weekend of the year”.
Watch the town expand and deflate from 100 people to 6000 people with the same intensity of one of those miracle-facewashes by joining the Setup and Packdown Team.
A bonus to this volunteering duty is that most of the work is at the start of end of race weekend – leaving plenty of spare time to enjoy the event in the middle!
Volunteer Requirements: This job is best suited to those able to take part in lifting, carrying, bending, and general manual labour.
3. Wear merchandise from head-to-toe
Chuck on your cap and get your stubby a-coolin’ by spreading the merchandise love.
When working for the Merchandise and Ticketing Team, you’ll be responsible for running the merchandise desks at the Fashions on Field event and fun run events.
Volunteer Requirements: Customer service skills, ability to stand for a few hours at a time, and ability to handle money.
4. Get up close and personal with the ‘race that stops the outback’
For two lucky volunteers, exclusive access to the inner workings of the Birdsville racetrack is up for grabs as a Race Day General Assistant.
You’ll be responsible for releasing the horses for the race, assisting the jockeys and reviewing the finish line.
With great power comes great responsibility, which is why this special position requires a commitment over both race days.
Your reward? This is the ultimate behind-the-Birdsville-scenes experience.
Volunteer Requirements: Great people skills and general admin skills.
5. Get involved, do your part, then enjoy it
Thanks to the committed team of hospitality volunteers, there’s no chance of fading away in Birdsville.
Put those hospitality skills to use, and join the Birdsville Races Hospitality Team to run the front-of-house at the cocktail party, then switch to behind-the-scenes at the Trackside Marquee events over the race days.
The best part to belonging to this team? It’s got the lowest minimum hours requirement (only 9 hours over the whole event!) of any team, which means less time working and more time watching the races. Winning (pun intended)!
Volunteer Requirements: Ability to stand for a few hours at a time and some experience in hospitality.
Have you volunteered at Birdsville Races before? Let us know your favourite part in the comments below!
This post was sponsored by the Birdsville Races.
