Leaf your mark on Toowoomba’s biggest event! Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is sprouting opportunities for fun-loving volunteers who want to see what goes on behind the scenes of this bloomin’ fantastic celebration.
Why Our Volunteers Have So Much Fun
Volunteering with Carnival isn’t just about helping out—it’s a chance to:
We’ve cultivated a variety of roles to suit your schedule and interests! Shifts typically last just 2-4 hours, and you’ll always be part of a team where fun blooms naturally.
OUR 2025 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Applications are open to volunteer with Carnival this year! There’s a role to suit every petal, from ticket scanners and sellers to flower crown makers and tour guides.
Check out our volunteer roles for 2025 and sign up below!
QUESTIONS SPROUTING UP?
If anything’s still unclear or you need more information, reach out to us at info@tcof.com.au—we’re always happy to help your volunteer journey blossom!
WHAT MAKES BEING A CARNIVAL VOLUNTEER SO SPECIAL?
Don’t just take our word for it—here’s what our volunteers say:
“I really enjoy being part of this event. I love working with other volunteers and it is such a feel good experience” – Volunteer survey respondent
“It provides me with joy in knowing that I help to showcase the beautiful city of Toowoomba” – Volunteer survey respondent
“It makes me proud to be part of this community and great place to live” – Volunteer survey respondent
“In my last year of high school I volunteered at the Grand Central Floral Parade. I really enjoyed the opportunity and four months later I found myself working in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers office! You never can tell where a few hours of volunteering can lead. For me it was the beginning of my career “– Heidi
Share your passion for plants and local gardening knowledge as a tour guide for scheduled visitor groups. You’ll be the friendly face welcoming guests to our region, imparting your knowledge and love for our city as you travel around Toowoomba, visiting several spectacular gardens. Guides will be provided with an itinerary and are not required to navigate – the coach company will provide a driver. When you apply for this role, your application and details will be forwarded to the tour packaging specialist.
This role would suit: Someone with great public speaking skills and local knowledge who loves Toowoomba, is approachable, friendly and skilled in talking to large groups of people and keeping them engaged.
Dates:
• Various dates throughout the event
Shift times:
• Shifts are approximately 2.5 hours in duration, between 9am and 5pm weekdays or weekends.
Share your love of Toowoomba and help welcome guests to our region by becoming an information guru stationed in our Info Hubs at Queens Park Botanic Garden and Laurel Bank Park. You’ll hand out programs and share your local knowledge and recommendations as a vital team member working with Toowoomba Regional Council staff to assist guests and locals alike discover all there is to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, as well as selling merchandise so they can take a little piece of Carnival home!
This role would suit: Someone with great customer service skills and local knowledge who is able to process EFTPOS sales (or capable of learning). Must love Toowoomba, be approachable, friendly and love talking to visitors!
Dates:
• Fri 12 Sept – Mon 6 Oct
Shift times:
• 12 – 18 Sept & 29 Sept – 6 Oct
* 9.30am – 1pm
* 1pm – 4.30pm
• 19 – 28 Sept
* 8.45am – 11.45am
* 11.30am – 2.30pm
* 2.15pm – 5.15pm
Have fun with a volunteer ‘buddy’ handing out items to spectators arriving to watch the iconic Grand Central Floral Parade or selling them some of our beautiful Carnival merchandise such as umbrellas and hats so they can take a little piece of Carnival home! Be a friendly and welcoming representative of our city, feel the buzz and excitement as crowds arrive and answer any queries they may have, plus you’ll get to enjoy the Parade at the end of your shift!
This role would suit: Someone active who likes getting out and about building up steps and smiling. Must be friendly and approachable, enjoy walking, comfortable in large crowds and confident speaking/selling to people.
Date:
• Sat 20 Sept
Shift time:
• 8am – 10am
Help set up chairs for designated seating areas along the Parade route and be the friendly face who welcomes guests to the iconic Grand Central Floral Parade.
After setting out chairs you will meet and greet passengers of booked coach tours and guide them to their designated seating area, before assisting with any general queries to ensure visitors and locals get the best impression of our region and enjoy the Parade!
Stay and watch the Parade from your favourite spot and after the Parade is finished, lend a hand stacking chairs.
This role would suit: Someone fit and able to undertake manual tasks, friendly, welcoming and tourism-minded. Must be organised and good at problem-solving for any seating issues that arise.
Date:
• Sat 20 Sept
Shift time:
• 8am – 12pm
Be the friendly face who welcomes visitors to our special designated viewing area for people with accessibility needs. Set up along the Parade route, you and a volunteer ‘buddy’’ will guardians to this area so it can be enjoyed by those who really need it. First in, best dressed!
This role would suit: Someone with a strong character but also a compassionate heart who is good at problem-solving for any seating issues that arise and help those in this special area to have a great time.
Date:
• Sat 20 Sept
Shift time:
• 9am – 12pm
Welcome our four-legged friends and their owner to this amazing new event where tail-wagging and floral outfits will attract the PUParazzi! Scan tickets of Parade entrants, hand out special gifts for the four-legged fashionistas or roam around checking in on our guests and handing out doggie poop bags if needed!
This role would suit: Someone friendly, welcoming and active with attention to detail. A dog lover who is comfortable walking among large crowds and is confident working in a fast-paced environment using scanners to check tickets.
Date:
• Sun 21 Sept
Shift time:
• 8.30am – 12pm
Be the friendly face helping things run smoothly, keeping tails wagging in line and guiding participants on and off the Paw Parade stage. Help our winners make their grand return to the spotlight to enjoy their big moment!
This role would suit: Someone friendly with great communication skills who has good situational awareness and is a quick thinker. Must love dogs but have self-control to not get distracted on the job while guiding people.
Date:
• Sun 21 Sept
Shift time:
• 8.30am – 12pm
Base yourself at our merchandise hub to sell some Paw-some Carnival merchandise like hats, cups, bags, and LED flower crowns, as well as answering queries from Paw Parade attendants. All sales will be processed via EFTPOS – no cash handling is required.
This role would suit: Someone with great customer service skills capable of making sales using EFTPOS machines and working in a fast-paced environment surrounded by happy pooches!
Date:
• Sun 21 Sept
Shifts time:
• 8.30am – 10.30am & 10.15am – 12.15pm
As our four-legged guests leave the event, be part of our barkstage crew to help packing up. Assist with the bumping out process by moving equipment, packing up various items (this may involve a bit of heavy lifting) all while having a fun and active morning in the park.
This role would suit: Someone friendly, strong and fit who is organised and loves lending a hand or a muscle.
Date:
• Sun 21 Sept
Shift time:
• 11.30am – 1.30pm
Get creative with beautiful blooms and enjoy a day out at our lovely flower crown tent at FEASTival. Assist guests to make their very own fresh flower headband/crown to enhance their floral outfits.
This role would suit: Someone approachable and friendly with crafty hands who loves crowds and flowers!
Dates:
Sat 27 – Sun 27 Sept
Shift times:
• 10.30am – 1.15pm
• 12.45pm – 3.30pm
• 2.45pm – 5.30pm
Practice your retail skills at our merchandise hub at FEASTival and sell Carnival merchandise such as hats, cups and LED flower crowns to guests who want to take a piece of Carnival home. Be prepared to answer some queries from FEASTival-goers. All sales will be processed via EFTPOS – no cash handling is required.
This role would suit: Someone with great customer service skills capable of making sales using EFTPOS and working in a fast-paced environment.
Dates:
• Sat 27 – Sun 27 Sept
Shift times:
• 10.30am – 1.30pm
• 1.15pm – 4.45pm
• 4.30pm – 8pm
Be the friendly face of FEASTival that welcomes and assists patrons entering the event by scanning their pre-purchased tickets. Keep the line moving, feel the buzz and try to recognise familiar faces as our guests enter!
This role would suit: Someone friendly and welcoming with attention to detail. Must be comfortable dealing with large crowds of people and confident working in a fast-paced environment using scanners to check tickets.
Dates:
• Sat 27 – Sun 27 Sept
Shift times:
• 10.30am – 1.30pm
• 1.15pm – 4.30pm
• 4.15pm – 7.30pm
*All FEASTival volunteers receive a day pass for the day they volunteer!
Welcome patrons of all ages who are excited to ride the Ferris Wheel in Queens Park Botanic Garden to get a bird’s eye view of our spectacular floral displays or a ride on our new addition at Laurel Bank Park – a carousel to get a 360-degree view of the park! Process ticket sales via EFTPOS using our simple pre-programmed system – no cash handling required.
This role would suit: Someone friendly and welcoming who is capable of processing EFTPOS sales.
Ferris Wheel dates:
• Sat 20 Sept – Mon 6 Oct
Shift times:
• 8.45am – 12pm
• 11.45am – 3pm
• 2.45pm – 5.45pm
Carousel Dates:
• Sat 20 Sept – Sun 5 Oct
Shift times:
• 8.45am – 11.45am
• 11.30am – 2.30pm
• 2.15pm – 5pm
*All Ferris Wheel and Carousel volunteers can have a free ride on the day they volunteer!
Welcome baking enthusiasts to our unique flour-powered festivity by scanning their pre-purchased tickets. Keep the line moving, you may need to guide our baking enthusiasts to their table and have a sweet time on our last day of Carnival.
This role would suit: Someone friendly and welcoming with attention to detail. Must be comfortable dealing with crowds of people and confident working in a fast-paced environment using scanners to check tickets.
Date:
• Mon 6 Oct
Shift times:
• 9.30am – 11am
Practice your retail skills at our merchandise hub during Cake Date and sell Carnival merchandise such as hats, cups and tea towels as we farewell the Carnival for another year. All sales will be processed via EFTPOS – no cash handling is required.
This role would suit: Someone with great customer service skills capable of making sales using EFTPOS terminals.
Date:
• Mon 6 Oct
Shift times:
• 9.30am – 12pm
Be a local legend and welcome visitors arriving at the heritage listed station at Spring Bluff onboard of the diesel-hauled Spring Bluff Shuttle or making their own way. Along with a Council staff member, complement their visitor experience by selling cold drinks and pre-packed foods as well as TCOF merchandise such as hats and umbrellas. EFTPOS sales only, no cash handling required.
This role would suit: Someone who doesn’t mind a short drive or lives near Spring Bluff, enjoys being surrounded by people, flowers and the sound of the train clickety clacking into the station! Must be friendly, approachable and confident processing EFTPOs sales.
Dates:
• Sat 20 – Sun 28 Sept
Shift times:
• 9.15am – 12.15pm
• 12pm – 3pm
So you want to be a Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers volunteer? Thank you!
Click here to register as a volunteer for this year’s event!
On a mobile – click here instead!
So you want to be a Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers volunteer? Thank you!
The flowers can’t grow without your tending.
Click here to register your interest for this year’s event!
Wed, 20 Aug - 20 Aug, 9pm AEST