Volunteering

Who can volunteer?
How do I become a volunteer?
Why volunteer?
What you get
How does it work?
Want to Know More?
I've Applied ... What Next?
Other Handy Information
Choosing your volunteer team

Join the Volunteer Team

Volunteering on Cycle Queensland is about camaraderie, teamwork, friendship and fun. Join our crew and take delight in making the state's largest recreational cycling tour happen.

Volunteers are the wheels that keep Cycle Queensland in motion - sign up today! There's a volunteer job to suit just about anyone and on top of that its lots of fun and a great way to learn new skills and meet new people. You can help from as little as 2 hours to as much as10 days. You can volunteer full-time or part-time, which means that you can even ride as well.

Comments from Cycle Queensland 2007 volunteers to the question: What's the best things about CQ?

"The fun I have with good company and the adventure of the tour."

"Fresh air, sunshine and great event crew."

"Mateship amongst other team members, the experience and the food."

"Meeting vollies, enjoying the company of vollies and riders and visiting small towns."

"The friendliness of everyone and the relaxed nature of the event."

If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering on the Ride, read on for more information and a volunteer application form.

Who can volunteer?

Anyone aged 18 or over, physically able to look after themselves and perform the tasks required. People with all sorts of skills are required, however, you don't need to have any special qualifications for most teams. We look for people who are friendly, positive, self-motivated and show initiative.

Volunteers are students, doctors, builders, nurses, retirees, backpackers - you name it. Absolutely anyone can volunteer. Whatever your interests, there is sure to be a team to suit you. Even better, bring a friend along and have the best nine days of your life.

Share your Volunteering! Volunteering is enjoyable but you can make it better by bringing friends or relatives. It's a great way to bond with family and friends.

How do I become a volunteer?

Why volunteer?

Volunteering is free and fun (we transport & feed you on the event)
Satisfaction and smiles at the end of the day
See the sights of regional Queensland
Experience the camaraderie
Meet new friends
Learn new skills
Enjoy the adventure
It's fun!

What you get

Two Cycle Queensland 2008 volunteer polo shirts
Hat, water bottle and sunscreen
All meals (including lunch on the rest day)
Transport to and from the event (full time vollies only)
"TLC Camping" (tent supplied and put up for you) for "early-bird" volunteers (limited availability)
Dedicated volunteer luggage truck
Invite to the volunteer party and other great rewards
Bikes ... BYO helmet so you can use our small fleet of bikes to explore the towns in your leisure time

How does it work?

Full-timers enter free and part-timers get a substantial discount on entry fees.
All volunteers are placed into a team for the event, lead by a team leader
There is a team to suit you and we try to place you in the team of your choice
Start and finish times vary, but you generally work up to 8 hours each day
You can attend briefing sessions before the ride
You are covered by our insurance
Campsites are smoke-free environments

Want to Know More?

Read on, give us a call on 07 3844 1144 or email: volunteer@bq.org.au. There will be briefings in the months before the ride with information for confirmed and potential volunteers. Stay tuned to find out more about these. Download the Volunteer Guide (166Kb PDF) for more info.

I've Applied - What Next?

After you've applied we will send an acknowledgement of the application. We will then assess your application - we may contact you as part of this assessment. Confirmation of acceptance will occur as soon as we have definitely placed you in a team. There will be a volunteer briefing in Brisbane in the months before the ride. If you need to confirm leave or travel arrangements before you receive a confirmation then please let us know. Volunteers will be supplied with a Volunteer Guide and event specific details before the event.

Other Handy Information

How do I get there?

Full time volunteers can travel for free on any of our chartered event transport listed on the application form - all you need to do is get yourself to the departure point. .

If you are driving to the event you are welcome to use the Bundaberg or Brisbane car park but will need to pay the same as the riders. Please remember, you cannot bring your own vehicle on the event unless specifically agreed with the Event Director in advance. If you are interested in lending us your car for the event (please note, you may not be the driver of the car and will not have access to it during the event) please phone 07 3844 1144 or download the insert hyperlink loan vehicle application form.

Riding Volunteers will need to make their own way to the event and need to complete their transport options on their ride entry form.

Advance Crew

Some volunteers are needed to help set-up the first campsite in Woodgate Beach. Please advise if you are available and want to be part of this critical crew. Full-time volunteers from any team are welcome. The Advance Crew will arrive in Woodgate Beach on Thursday August 29. We also need people who are available until late on the final day to help pack up the Glass House Mountains campsite and the Brisbane (Sandgate) finish site. Let us know if you are interested.

Accommodation

Standard accommodation is camping in your own tent and during the event there is a special area set aside for volunteer camping. But if you get in early, you will be eligible for TLC Camping.

TLC camping

To make things a little more comfortable for volunteers we offering TLC camping (availability is limited). We will supply a tent and put it up for you in the volunteer camping area each day and pack it up the next morning.

This will free you up to spend more time relaxing and enjoying all there is to offer on the campsite and around town. TLC camping will be offered to volunteers who sign up before 11/5/07 unless it is filled before this date. You will still need to bring a sleeping mat.

To make sure as many volunteers as possible get to take advantage of TLC Camping, you need to share your tent with one other person. You can team up with a friend or we'll match you up with a tent buddy (same gender and age group). We have larger tents available for volunteers with tall and or large bodies. Of course, you can still bring your own tent if you prefer to go it solo. Check out the TLC camping for volunteers info sheet for more details.

Team Leaders

Team Leaders are people who enjoy that extra challenge, can devote some time before the event and want the extra satisfaction of being more intimately involved in a successful event. No previous experience is needed, just a positive approach and a desire to learn. Team Leaders get a TLC Camping tent of their own.

If you are interested please contact the Volunteer Coordinator.

Insurance

You will be covered by Public Liability insurance as well as voluntary workers insurance, while you are working and as long as you are performing within the scope of your role.

Full-time volunteers

Are exempt from event entry fees.
Do not ride in the event and are
available for the full duration of the ride.
Are required from Day 1 until the end of Day 9. Some volunteers by special arrangement are needed for 1 or 2 days before and after the event - please advise your availability.

Riding (part-time) Volunteers

Are those who wish to ride in Cycle Queensland but want to devote some of their spare non-riding time in helping out with volunteer tasks.
Pay the full entry fee. A refund of up to $160 is paid after the event, upon satisfactory completion of assigned tasks.
Work up to 3 (typically only two) hours each day for a total of 16 hours. This may be in the morning, afternoon or evening.
Must be fit enough to cycle and work in the same day.
Are rostered jobs to allow for cycling activities.
Part-time positions are limited and for only a few teams.

Choosing your volunteer team

There is a huge range of roles for you to choose from and, for most, you don't need any special skills. You could screen movies, serve food, put up marquees or support cyclists on the road. All teams have a Team Leader to support you and plan your roster. Read below to help work out your 1st, 2nd and 3rd team preferences.

It is important to be flexible during the event, as you may at times need to assist other teams or be moved to another team to cover changing needs. For more detailed job descriptions download the pdf files after each team below.

First day / Last day

There are large lumps in our workload on the first day in Bundaberg and the last day in Brisbane so there are opportunities for locals or rider friends and family to help out. There are a huge variety of small and large tasks to be completed which vary in skill level and duration so we're sure to have something that suits you.

Odds and Ends (in Brisbane)

There are a huge variety of small and large tasks to be completed pre & post ride. They vary in skill level and duration so we're sure to have something that suits you.

Out on the road

Cycle Queensland is all about cycling so the Cycling Team has an important role - keeping the cyclists safe and happy.

Cycling Services

Marshals keep the cyclists heading in the right direction, warn them of hazards and generally support them on their holiday. Have fun with humorous interaction with the riders and plenty of encouragement. Days can be long and always outside.

The Sign Crew ensures the route is identified and the traffic aware so the riders don't lose their way and the motorists are careful. This crew starts early in the morning and then collects the signs again at the end of the day.

The Sag Wagon travels behind the last rider and picks up any weary or injured riders and bikes. Plenty of encouragement needed and good people skills.

Water & Rubbish are needed & produced along the route. For cyclists, water is life, and like everybody they produce rubbish.

Cycling services.pdf (73kb)

Mobile Town

Setout & Access

This all-action team sets up the campsite each day using signs, flags and conversation to efficiently direct support crews, vehicles and cyclists to the correct areas of the campsite. You'll also control access at the site entries. It's our home so it needs to look good and be planned well. Each site is different so your problem solving is new everyday.

Set out & access.pdf (61kb)

Logistics

Put up marquees, load trucks and coordinate equipment. This team builds the site each day from the ground up. For those who like manual work and a great team environment.

Logistics.pdf (58kb)

Services

Keep the campsite alive with power, water and wastewater. Setup specialist equipment unique to the event for dish washing and laundry. Fit and handy are good attributes and you will get dirty.

Services.pdf (73 Kb)

Luggage

Riders load and unload their luggage at each campsite but they need encouragement and light-hearted direction. You will lift some bags.

Luggage.pdf (61 kb)

Clean Up

We try to minimise, but rubbish is a reality. This team distributes and maintains bins around the site and keeps the campsite clean. We like to impress towns when we leave a spotless site. Catering and Café at meal times is where most of the action is.

Clean Up.pdf (63kb)

Catering

Meet the riders as you serve them breakfast and dinner prepared by our chefs. A great meal served with a smiling face makes people happy. Assist with preparation of lunch and dinner each day and help with the kitchen wash-up.

Catering.pdf (72kb)

Cafe

Serve drinks and snacks in our licensed café. Serve customers, maintain stock and assist with the setup each day. This is where people put their feet up from early afternoon to 9pm.

Cafe.pdf (61kb)

Easy Campese

This team puts up riders tents for those who really want to relax. You'll work hard and fast in a great team environment.

Easy Campese.pdf (61kb)

Ride Reception

The font of all knowledge about the event and the local town. People come here for directions, help and information. We run a small shop for all those things people forget, lose or break. This happy helpful team gets to meet all the participants.

Ride Reception.pdf (61kb)

Rejuvenating the troops

With Tender Loving Care these crews keep the riders on the road and volunteers on their toes.

Medical

Doctors, Physios and Paramedics are needed for this important team to work with the support of St John Ambulance. The team covers the route and the campsite for mainly minor injuries and ailments. If you want to work in another team please still tell us of your medical skills in case we have an emergency.

Doctors and physios are also able to ride and volunteer, call BQ for more details and the great incentives.

Medical.pdf (83kb)

Massage

Riders and volunteers get a complimentary no frills 15-minute massage. Team members need to have qualifications. Your hands will do their thing for 6 hours a day.

Massage.pdf (62kb)

Good Times

If you're into fun and excitement then this is the team for you. Running movies, coordinating live bands and background music, running the parties, competitions and the tribes program will allow you to dispense Good Times to the whole ride. There is plenty of opportunity for creative spirits and improvisation. Set up of AV equipment is an important part of this team.

Good Times.pdf (65kb)

Volunteer Support

Working with the volunteer coordinator, this team sets up the TLC camping and makes sure our volunteers have smiles on their faces.

Volunteer Support.pdf (61kb)