Surrender is built on the power of community, radical hospitality, and shared responsibility. It takes a diverse group of passionate people to shape our gatherings and bring our movement to life. Whether you are looking to step into leadership, lend a hand during our main festival weekend, or support our year-round work, there is a place for your unique gifts here.

Volunteering Opportunities

1. Join the Organising Team

As part of the Organising Team, you play a key role in bringing our events to life—from early brainstorming and planning through to the main weekend. Armed with the theme, overall schedule, speaker concepts, and budget provided by the Surrender Board and Hosting Partners, our team gets to work shaping an intentional, transformative space from the ground up.

Pre-Event Planning & Creative Direction:

• Program & Content Creation: Contribute ideas for workshops, main stage flow, suggest potential speakers or artists, and help shape session content.

• Site, Stage & Atmosphere: Craft the visual culture of the event—including stage decor, site layout, exhibition areas, signage, and gathering spaces like our fire pits.

• Admin, Marketing & Media: Assist with social media management, communications, website updates, photography/videography, and project tracking.

• Operations & Logistics: Help oversee technical production (audio/AV needs), risk management, registration setup, and infrastructure planning.

On-the-Weekend Team Leadership:

• Area Supervision: Lead key zones during the gathering, such as registration desks, workshop spaces, food services, or main stage operations.

• Ground Support & Speaker Care: Host main-stage presenters, support volunteer shifts, oversee setup and pack-down teams, and manage info hubs.

2. Volunteer at the Festival

If you want to serve during our main gathering while still taking in the festival atmosphere, festival volunteering is the perfect fit. Festival volunteers lend their time in specific shifts across the weekend in exchange for an immersive behind-the-scenes experience.

Festival Weekend Roles Include:

• Welcome & Registration: Greet delegates, check in arriving participants, hand out program guides, and provide directions.

• Hospitality & Shared Meals: Assist with food preparation, maintain shared eating spaces, serve drinks, and support our community-led catering teams.

• Technical & Stage Support: Help our production crew with audio visual adjustments, mic runs, lighting setup, and stage resets between sessions.

• Site Crew & Logistics: Keep the venue safe and clean, assist with furniture setups for electives, manage fire pits, and help with pack-down.

• Chaplaincy & Community Care: Offer a listening ear, host quiet/contemplative zones, and support care points across the site.

3. Other Ways to Get Involved

Looking to contribute outside of our main festival dates or organising team cycles? We welcome skill-based volunteering and year-round support:

• Collectives & Year-Round Initiatives: Assist with logistics or communications for ongoing initiatives like the Racial Justice Collective, Neighbourhood Collective, or Surrender Leadership Program.

• Creative & Media Contributions: Offer specialized skills in video editing, graphic design, copywriting, or web development throughout the year.

• Local Champions: Help spread the word in your local church, university group, or justice network by distributing flyers, hosting an info table, or coordinating group attendance.

Ready to Lend a Hand?

Fill out our quick volunteer interest form below, or reach out directly to our team at enquiries@surrender.org.au to start the conversation!