Volunteer

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Not only will you make a difference by supporting and honouring those diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia, but it’s a great opportunity to have fun whilst having a positive impact on your community, and:

• Meet like-minded people and make create new networks
• Learn new skills, or add to the ones you already have, and gain experience
• Challenge yourself by trying something different
• Gain confidence and increase your self-esteem

All Mother’s Day Classic events are powered by volunteers!

We’ll have up to 70 events across Australia in 2023 from Major events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Western Sydney to community-led Local events in towns such as Alice Springs, Colac, Esperance, Gawler, Magnetic Island and Orange!

You can see all locations at our events page. And remember, new locations will be added up until the end of March 2023.

In many locations you will be able to volunteer as well as participate as a walker or runner, and we encourage you to do so! There’s a spot on the volunteer registration form to let us know if you are participating so we can ensure your shift and event times don’t clash.

As a volunteer, you're entitled to a 10% discount on entry fee – the discount code will be revealed once you’ve completed your volunteer registration.

Anyone can volunteer. Our volunteer program is inclusive and accessible to people from different backgrounds, with diverse perspectives, identities, talents, abilities, and skills.

If you like meeting people, have a positive attitude and a willingness to help, you can volunteer!

You may be subject to background checks such as a Working with Children Check (WWCC) - free for volunteers to apply - and proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as per the respective state government requirements at the time of the event, and depending on the type of shift you select.

There are no age restrictions to volunteer at a Mother’s Day Classic event. However, if you are under the age of 18 years on event day, the supervision of an adult and consent of a parent or guardian is required before volunteering.

You’ll be asked for details of your parent or guardian and supervisor when you register, so have that information ready.

Most of our volunteer shifts are for four hours. If you’re registering to volunteer at a Major event, you’ll see the shift start and end times when you register and can select a shift length that suits you. If you’re registering for a Local event, your Event Host will advise available shift times.

At all events, we ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your shift start time, so remember to factor in travel time to be able to arrive on time.

There are many roles volunteers undertake from course set-up, getting walkers and runners underway from the start, greeting them at the finish line and cheering them on around the course.

Be prepared to be flexible on event day as you may be reallocated from one role to another during your shift – that’s the nature of busy events!

You’ll be well prepared for the day. Ahead of your shift, we’ll share details about what to wear, what to bring, where and whom to meet, and what time to arrive.

You’ll be required to familiarise yourself with the event at your chosen location, and we may ask you to undertake some simple online training – we’ll let you know.

Mother’s Day Classic offers great group volunteering opportunities. Depending on the size of your group, you could be rostered to stick together on event day, or choose to be mixed up – either way, a member of our team will work with you to create a fun and memorable experience! We can also provide you with a range of resources to help recruit members to your volunteering group.

• Do you belong to a club, association, group, or team looking for a unique and meaningful volunteering experience?
• Is your workplace looking for an opportunity to re-connect with your team, build and reveal skills, and build positive relationships within your organisation and community?
• Are you connected to an education institution that promotes volunteering as part of formal learning or as an extracurricular activity?

Yes, Mother’s Day Classic Foundation holds a Volunteer Insurance policy that ensures you’re protected for personal injury.

If you’re under 18 years on event day, our insurance is only valid if we’ve gained consent from your parent or guardian, and you’re supervised by an adult on event day.

If you’re over 75 years on event day, our insurance requires us to pay special attention to tasks assigned to you.

Click here to submit your question.

For Mother’s Day Classic events to run successfully, we need reliable volunteers. We ask that you:

• Be punctual
• Communicate with us if things change
• Behave in a manner that reflects positively on Mother’s Day Classic

Are flexible and able to accommodate change.

Once you sign up to volunteer, we trust you'll stand by your commitment, but we also understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise.

It's really important you let us know if you can't make it anymore so please login to Rosterfy and withdraw from your shift or cancel your expression of interest as soon as you know you won’t make it.

You’ll be well prepared for event day! Keep an eye on your inbox closer to Mother’s Day for a link to your Volunteer Handbook which includes all the information you need to know – what to wear, what to bring, how to get to the event location, where and whom to meet, and what time to arrive.

At some locations, you may be provided with a volunteer t-shirt, but we’re not able to guarantee the right size for each volunteer.

We rely on local organisations to donate drinks and snacks for volunteers, so we can’t tell you right now exactly what will be available.

There will be access to drinking water, so please bring your own refillable water bottle.

And we suggest bringing your own snacks to get you through your shift and boost your energy levels.

You’ll be introduced to a Volunteer Coordinator on event day who will be your point of contact all day. They’ll welcome you, check you in and out, set expectations and assign duties. You’ll also take a site orientation tour so you’ll know where everything is.

Our on-site team is there to ensure you feel valued, supported and successful!

If you’re unhappy for any reason on the day, talk to your Volunteer Coordinator to see if anything can be done to improve your experience. It’s particularly imperative that you speak up if you feel that something is seriously wrong, or someone is treating you in an unacceptable manner.

Be mindful that operational requirements may require you to be reallocated from one role to another during your shift, including to something you may not be familiar with or may not be your preference. Be flexible on event day and remember that everyone involved in the Mother’s Day Classic is pitching in to help to fund essential breast cancer research.

We’re unable to reimburse out of pocket expenses such as travel or meals.

Click here to submit your question.

Yes, you’re entitled to a Certificate of Appreciation to recognise your efforts. Certificates are available to download from Rosterfy (our volunteer registration program), after your shift is marked as ‘attended’. Be sure to check out at the end of your shift and marked as ‘attended’.

We’re unable to provide personalised references in relation to your volunteering effort. However, you can request sign-off of hours by the Volunteer Coordinator, if required. Please arrange this on event day.

Keep an eye on your inbox after Mother’s Day for an email with a link to a feedback form. This is your best opportunity to share your thoughts and provide feedback so we can improve on our volunteer experience for future events.

Click here to submit your question.