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Throughout my studies with tAFE SA in completion of my Diploma of Event Management, as part of our learning we were highly encouraged to volunteer as a way of networking and putting ourselves out there, and i had never volunteered previously especially for events, but this experience with studying really helped to boost confidence and find my footing as a baby event manager in the making.
Volunteering i would encourage for any individual who is looking for experience in the field they’re looking to be a part of. The skills learnt from volunteering is something that will take you miles, especially with building those connections and relationships that will help you grow as an individual with a reputation.
During my time with TAFE SA, I volunteered for a total of 4 events in the year 2025. Those events comprised of;
Variety Kid’s 50th Anniversary Golden Gala
The first event i partook in as a student at TAFE SA was the Variety Kid’s Golden Gala which celebrated 50 years of contribution at a one night only event.
this was an exciting opportunity a lot of students got to experience as one of our lecturers worked with variety Kids.
Volunteering for Variety Kids meant I helped attending guests by any means that made them feel welcomed for attending such a rewarding occasion, some roles i instinctively took on included photo wall – which involved me handling people’s devices to capture the moments they will look back on later, the wine-lottery wall which involved donations for a number that is associated to a bottle of wine, and bump out which is post-event pack up.
The privilege & exposure for volunteering for such an event was only the start of my foundation to understanding the industry – the amount of effort by an event manager that goes into organising, assembling, designing, and executing an event of any size must show an adequate amount of detail-orientation and thoroughness to have an effective outcome.
i am truly grateful for the opportunity that was granted through TAFE SA to volunteer for such a wonderful occasion, after learning more about Variety Kids SA I grew to understand why the night was worth celebrating!
Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit
my second event I got to volunteer for under the endorsement of TAFE SA was cellar door fest winter edit, which is a food and beverage event focused on promoting retailers through taste-testing over a couple of days to attending patrons.
my position for this event was a lot more hands on with the crowd as I got to scan tickets during the day-session and stamp returning patrons if they were to leave the venue, and serve glasses during the night-sessions to guests first arriving at the event. each glass to follow wHS protocols had a drink tracker to encourage hydration between beverages and reduce reckless behaviour.
I also provided maps to individuals who wanted a guide to specific retailers available at the event and restocked the glasses throughout the night to anyone who showed up at any time.
volunteering for Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit really educated me on the action that takes place during an event and the responsibility that is required to run it successfully. the precision and awareness that was required to monitor and supervise the amount of people present was crucial.
Illuminate Adelaide – Zoos SA | Universal Kingdom: the next era
The next event I volunteered at during my time with TAFE sA was during illuminate Adelaide’s Universal Kingdom: The Next Era which was facilitated by Zoo SA.
This was such a different experience from the prior mentioned with a lot more fun, interactive, and large-scaled activities scattered around the whole of the Adelaide Zoo
The event comprised of sculptures, lit-up statues, outdoor video projection, and a number of activities designed for children at night time as part of the illuminate adelaide festival that takes over the adelaide cBD! Volunteering for the event was mainly centred around supervising attending guests and providing guidance, information, and pamphlets that could help to elevate their experience.
Unlike the previous events, I was actually given merchandise/uniform that also added to my experience as a volunteer to feel part of a team!
My overall experience volunteering was super fun and really exposed me to the possibilities of execution and how things can be fun and educative, and I got to meet some really amazing people.
Schools Challenge
My final event for 2025 as a TAFE SA student was Schools Challenge; Australia’s newest performing arts event for schools to participate in.
My interest in participating was driven purely from nostalgia, being a theatre kid who did Wakikirri, J-Rock, and a bunch of other stage-shows, I felt I had to get involved! my passion was to make this experience the most memorable for kids, parents, and teachers so that they return again in support of schools challenge.
This experience felt nothing like the previous, I had a headset, uniform, name badge, and i was in-charge of 2 school groups to make sure they got to their rehearsals, lunch breaks, photo-ops, their seating during performance, and the stage for their actual performance; all this which made me feel so professional!
Schools challenge took place over 3 days with day 1 being bump in and setting up the dressing rooms, photo walls, merchandise, dividers. Day 2 was one wave of schools performing, and day 3 was another wave of schools performing + bump out.
Now, I don’t like to pick favourites but this experience was truly magical and I even forgot that I was volunteering, i just felt in my element. The wonderful people who run Schools Challenge were so welcoming!
Post-TAFE SA Volunteering
After completing my diploma in 2025, my time volunteering wasn’t concluded! I still find myself participating in experiences within society that draw a deeper connection between myself and this industry that I love. I volunteered for 6 months with Adelaide Festival Centre (AFCT) which were some of the most amazing shifts I worked at Her Majesty’s Theatre, working the foyer and getting to experience many theatrical performances that i otherwise wouldn’t have known about, Volunteering with AFCT exposed me to the OzAsia Festival which rewarded me with an afternoon amongst culture.
I concluded my 6 months with AFCT when I began my cycle of adventures between LIV Golf and Adelaide Fringe.
After the hype of Adelaide Fringe concluded for 2026, I was off to seek my next event adventure; I had been recommended to participate in the Adelaide Equestrian festival which felt like i was returning home when I was located at Rymill Park for RB Sellars Cross Country Day. I was stationed to scan tickets and monitor the entry and exit from a specific gate, I got to meet many amazing people and network with some people who had some of the most incredible stories to tell. not to mention there were so many dogs and I was in heaven.
My latest side-quest was the Mother’s Day Classic of 2026, an annual occasion designed to spread awareness and provide support to families and individuals who have been affected by breast and ovarian cancer. This event occurred on the morning of mothers day, where hundreds of people rallied together to run or walk a certain distance in effort to raise money for researching the mentioned cancers. This morning was filled with emotions, stories, and so much hope!
Janelle Does Events 