Article written by Lucy Stokes
Queenslanders are the early risers of our country, the go‑getters; our pathways are full of runners and cyclists before the sun even thinks about coming up. And as a state, we’re heading into a huge sporting season, with the Brisbane Marathon in June and the Gold Coast Marathon in July. These events, which welcome thousands of athletes every year, simply wouldn’t be possible without people who give their time and effort for nothing more than passion and a love for sport.
Sport volunteering is for everyone. It’s linked to a wide range of health, social and community benefits, and it offers opportunities that suit your individual needs, interests and availability. Volunteers sit at the heart of the sport sector and play a critical role in delivering sport across Queensland.
There’s an abundance of ways to give back to the sport you love. Coaching, fundraising, marshalling, car park assistance, event organisation, uniform management, treasurer duties, board roles — the list is long, and every role makes a difference.
Do you love hitting the pavement for a run? Prefer the freedom of an open‑water swim? Is cycling more your style — or maybe all three? Major events like triathlons, local running festivals and community races rely on volunteers to keep things moving. From handing out water to athletes, to helping with event set‑up, to guiding cars into the right spot, there are countless ways to contribute. These events are also perfect for group volunteering; local sports teams, organisations and clubs can even receive a donation to their club or charity of choice when volunteering at the upcoming Brisbane Marathon.
Volunteers are the backbone of local sporting clubs, freely contributing their time and knowledge for the benefit of their sport, participants, families and the wider community. One sport that survives purely on volunteer power is pickleball — the fastest‑growing sport in the world.
“Any new and emerging sport needs volunteers to keep people playing,” former Pickleball Australia volunteer Cath Griffin says. Cath was instrumental in exposing the sport to new audiences in Brisbane and knows how challenging it can be to organise events and tournaments for a rapidly growing sport.
“Everyone does their bit for their club; we want community to come together and for that to happen we need people to volunteer their time.”
If you want to get involved in your favourite sports and events, volunteering often gives you a front‑row seat to the action. Queensland has some electric sporting events coming up, with the Tour de Brisbane just around the corner and marathon season running from April to September. Outside of SEQ, don’t miss the Supercars NTI Townsville 500 in July, the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo in August and the Birdsville Races in September.
Volunteering at events like these is the perfect way to give whatever time you have — without ongoing commitment — while experiencing and supporting the activities you’re passionate about.
Check out some of the volunteer roles in your area on our website: https://volunteeringqld.org.au/roles/