What are the dates for volunteering for the 2026 Festival?

• The Festival weekend runs from Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November, with most events happening on the Saturday and the Sunday.

• Some volunteering sessions will also be available in the week before the Festival (preparing ticket packages, signage, and so on)

What other dates are important to know about?

• Wednesday 22 July: Volunteer applications open (to be completed online)

• Monday 24 August: Volunteer applications close

• Early October: Roles and rosters sent to all volunteers

• Saturday 24 October: A one-hour volunteer orientation meeting will be held at The Carrington at 11am. This will also be the last day to return your signed volunteer agreement.

Do I need to have any specific skills or qualifications?

We’re looking for volunteers who:

• have a love of books, reading, ideas, writing and festivals

• are available to attend the volunteer orientation on Saturday 24 October

• are available to volunteer for at least two Festival shifts

• are physically strong enough to stand for most of their shift (note that for those volunteers with access requirements, we do have some roles where you can sit for most or all of the time)

In addition, for some roles but not all, we’re looking for volunteers who:

• are confident using ticketing apps on their phone (to scan tickets)

• have physical strength (for moving chairs, banners, etc)

• have experience managing public events

Finally, there’s a couple of roles that require specific qualifications:

• Anybody volunteering for the children’s program needs a valid Working with Children Check

• We need two volunteers who have a NSW Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate

I have some health or mobility restrictions? Can I still volunteer?

Yes, wherever possible, we will try to find a suitable role for you. Please indicate your accessibility requirements on the online form.

Are there any age restrictions?

The minimum is 18 years of age, and the maximum is 90 years. (We’re sorry to cap the age at 90, but that’s the maximum limit of our insurance!)

I am from interstate, can I apply?

Yes, you’d be most welcome. Please note however that volunteers are responsible for their own transport and accommodation.

What roles are available?

• Accessibility assistants

• Assembling ticket packages (pre-festival)

• Audience and book signing assistants/ushers

• Bump in/out (involves some heavy lifting)

• Green room assistants

• Information assistants

• Parking and traffic management

• Workshop assistants

How long is each volunteer shift?
Shifts vary between three hours and five hours in length. When allocating shifts, we try to take into account the popularity of the shift and also the skills required. For example, car park and information assistant shifts are only ever three hours long, as we know that they are the most arduous and least interesting!

Can I choose the time and location of my volunteer shift?
When you apply to be a volunteer, we ask if you have any preferences for specific dates, roles or venues. We will endeavour to accommodate all preferences when we allocate shifts, but we won’t always be able to accommodate preferences as to roles or venues. Please note that this process has changed since last year, which did allow volunteers to select specific times and venues. We’ve made this change as we needed to better match volunteer skills to the different demands of each venue. 

If your availability changes after you submit your application, please advise the Volunteer Coordinator asap: wei@varuna.com.au

Is there a uniform?
We will provide you with a Festival t-shirt to be worn while you’re on your shift, and we ask that you wear closed shoes. In addition, we ask that you be prepared for any kind of weather – for wet and cold to hot and windy!

What does the Festival provide for volunteers on their shift?

You will receive:

• a Festival T-shirt (to be worn while volunteering)

• a clear description of what your role entails

• food and drink at the Volunteer hub

What do I receive in recognition for volunteering?

All volunteers who do at least two shifts will receive:

• access to any regular Festival session across the whole weekend

• 50% discount to all special events (Writers in the Sky, writing workshops, opening event)

• Free access to special events which have not sold out by 24 hours before the event starts

• an invitation to a post-festival volunteer gathering

If you have any other questions, please email us! wei@varuna.com.au.