Unless you are part of the route marshal or WARBY teams, you will not be required to ride a bike as a volunteer on the Great Vic. You’ll be transported either by bus or event vehicle from town to town each day.

Volunteers have been the heart and soul of the Great Vic ever since its beginning in 1984 – and the event simply could not go ahead without them! There are many benefits to volunteering with us.

Here are just a few:

• You will get to see some beautiful parts of Australia and you will have some free time to explore the towns we visit
• All transportation, meals and use of a tent on event are free of charge for volunteers
• We have a diverse range of volunteer roles to apply for – there is something for everyone!
• It will give you an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends
• There is plenty of entertainment for volunteers to take part in, including live music, an outdoor cinema, rest day activities, an on-event volunteer celebration and much more!
• You’ll feel good knowing that you played an important part in helping over 3000 riders enjoy an iconic event!

The best way to get to Robe is to take one of our coach services, which are free of charge for volunteers.

We will be running a volunteer-only bus service on Thursday 21 November from Melbourne which we strongly suggest you take if you are able to. It will give you an opportunity to meet the other volunteers and prepare yourselves for the event before the riders arrive the following day.

Otherwise, you will be able to take the rider buses on Friday 22 November.

Rider bus locations

• Melbourne
• Adelaide
• Albury/Wodonga
• Ballarat
• Bendigo
• Geelong
• Traralgon
• Torquay Long Term Car Park
• Wangaratta

While personal vehicles are not permitted on event, any volunteers who wish to drive may leave their car at our long-term car park (LTCP) in Torquay, where you can jump on our bus service to take you through to Robe.

On the Great Vic, all 3000+ riders and volunteers stay at our own self-built campsites which we move from town to town on each day of the ride. Campsites are typically located on recreation reserves including ovals and surrounding parkland.

2019 campsites

• Fri 22 Nov: Robe
• Sat 23 Nov: Millicent
• Sun 24 Nov: Mt Gambier
• Mon 25 Nov: Portland
• Tues 26 Nov & Wed 27 Nov: Port Fairy
• Thurs 28 Nov: Peterborough
• Fri 29 Nov: Beech Forest
• Sat 30 Dec: Deans Marsh 

If you have your own tent to use, you are welcome to bring it with you. Otherwise you can opt to use one of ours, which we are happy to set up and take down for you every day. Importantly, if you use of our tents you will share with another volunteer.

If you know someone that you would like to share your tent with, you can request this during your application. Otherwise you will be paired with another volunteer of the same gender and where possible, age and volunteer team. Don’t be nervous about sharing – it is a great way to get to know another volunteer on the event!

Please note that while we can provide a tent, you will be required to bring your own sleeping bag, mat and pillow.

There’s really no campsite like a Great Vic campsite – it’s a pop-up town with everything you need. Learn more about life on event.

Absolutely – and to repay you for your volunteer time we will give you up to a 30% refund on your entry price. But be quick, there are a limited number of riding volunteer positions available. For more information check out the ‘riding volunteer’ position description above.

Most volunteers will be working around 6-8 hours each day, depending on your role. The rest of your day can be spent doing whatever is most enjoyable for you. Whether it’s exploring the local towns, joining in the entertainment and activities, enjoying a drink in the bar or simply relaxing!

You will also have a rest day where you will have no volunteer hours – the perfect time to do some exploring and join in the fun activities that we have planned! For most volunteers this will be day 6 while we are at Port Fairy (the same day as the riders), but this will be confirmed by your Team Leader on event.

At Bicycle Network, children are vital and active participants in our organization, so we’re proud to have developed a Child Safe culture that promotes the wellbeing and safety of children. To support our Child Safe Policy, we require all team members* on the Great Vic to have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC).

To apply or renew your WWCC, please visit the WWCC website.

*Working with Children Check’s are currently only required for Victorian residents aged 18+. If you live interstate or overseas or are aged under 18, you are exempt from this requirement

We will be running two information sessions prior to the event to help you prepare for your time on the Great Vic. These sessions will predominately cover general information about the event, rather than role specific information. They are not mandatory, but if this is your first time volunteering we encourage you to attend one of them.

Volunteer information sessions

• Session 1: Saturday 19 October, 10:00am, Bicycle Network HQ
• Session 2: Wednesday 23 October, 6:00pm, Bicycle Network HQ

You will also be required to participate in a training session which will be run by your team leader. This will usually take place during the first couple of days of the event.