2026 Welcome Fest Event Coordinator

• Help create the biggest student festival in Australia
• Work around your study
• Work on University of Sydney Main Camperdown Campus

WHO WE ARE

WHO YOU ARE

You are passionate, talented and creative. You are excited about creating and developing the BIGGEST student festival in Australia – Welcome Fest 2026.  

You are looking for a casual job on the University of Sydney's main campus to fit around your studies. We want you or both of you! We strongly encourage Welcome Fest Event Coordinators to apply as a pair. If you choose to do this, you must both send through separate applications but you should both attach the same supporting documentation (outlined below).

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Welcome Fest Event Coordinators will be responsible for ensuring student perspective is heard in the planning, coordination, promotion and execution of Welcome Fest. This includes the creative direction of Welcome Fest; the facilitation of Clubs & Societies’ stalls and requests; the conception, planning and coordination of events throughout Welcome Fest and be involved in the overall administration of information, promotion and budgeting in accordance with USU and University policy.

You will:

• Develop your event coordination skills
• Work closely with a range of stakeholders to carry out a large scale festival and drive attendance at events
• Encourage USU Membership and Rewards Program Sales
• Work alongside the USU Project Team to deliver the event

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

Please review the full Position Description for this position (download PDF here) for further details of the scope and requirements of this position.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

To be considered for the role, we ask for Supporting Documentation (min 1 – max 3 A4 Page and 2MB Word/PDF) providing answers to the following: 

1. If you had an unlimited budget, what event would you organise for Welcome Fest? Please include details on:  
   • • Why would this event benefit students? 
     • Why are you passionate about this event? 
     • How would you make this event accessible? 
2. What do you think is the best way to promote Welcome Fest to students and why? 
3. Every Welcome Fest, the USU engages clubs and societies through our Welcome fest stalls. What is an example of an event you would create to engage Clubs and Societies more in Welcome Fest? 
   1. Note the following rules for this event: 
      • You have a budget of $5000 for the whole event (not including staffing costs) 
      • The event must be held at The University of Sydney 
      • The event should engage more than one club or society 
      • You are aiming to have at least 100 people attend this event – so make it fun! 

NB: The supporting material should demonstrate your research into the USU and our Welcome Fest activities. It is particularly valuable for you to exhibit knowledge of the feasibility of what you put forward. 

EXPECTED START DATE AND PROJECTED HOURS PER WEEK

Commencing in early November, this position will work from 8 hours up to 20 hours per week, with the hours being progressively increased in the lead-up to Welcome Fest as per below:

• During the month of September, October and November there will be up to 8 hours of work per week.
• During the months of December, January and March, there will be up to 15 hours of work per week.
• During the month of February there will be up to 20 hours of work per week.

It is envisaged that this position will cease in early March 2026.

It is strongly recommended that no holidays be planned to coincide with the above appointment period. Any potential holidays or exchange programs should be discussed with the Programs Event Manager before you commit to them.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experience in event planning
• Experience developing digital content for the youth market
• High level of written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task and meet overlapping deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as an effective, committed and enthusiastic team member
• Ability to use basic budgeting principles to develop and/or maintain program budgets
• Current Sydney University Student
• Organisational and time management skills
• An active USU Membership. It’s FREE – join here!

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience developing and reviewing event runsheets
• Experience acting as the first point of contact for suppliers at events or functions
• Understanding of and involvement in the USU Clubs and Societies program
• Volunteering experience

THE PAY

$36.98 per hour + 12% superannuation 

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Short-listed Applicants must be available for an interview of approximately 30 minutes on Wednesday, 20 August between the hours of 9am to 4pm and/or Thursday, 21 August 2025 between the hours of 9am to 4pm.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: MONDAY, 11 AUGUST AT 10:30AM

HOW TO APPLY

Applications submitted after the closing time will not be considered. Please give yourself ample time to submit your application electronically.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia for at least 10 hours a week to be eligible to apply for this role

1. Review the position description here before applying
2. Scroll down to complete the application form
3. Attach a Cover Letter (max 2 pages, in MS Word or PDF format only) addressing the selection criteria, referring to the Position Description, detailing why you wish to be a Welcome Fest Event Coordinator and what you can offer the position
4. Attach your resume (max 2 pages, in MS Word or PDF format only)
5. Attach your Supporting Material 

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have commenced your application you cannot save and continue at a later stage.

You are advised to complete your application with the awareness that the events take place on and in venues that have significant environmental and heritage considerations in place.

Your application and supporting material will be kept on file and not returned to you. If we have your material on file, we may refer to it and/or consider you for other roles. Please indicate if would prefer that we not keep your material on file.

Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for this and all USU positions.

ABOUT THE USU

The USU (University of Sydney Union) is proudly Australia’s oldest and largest not-for-profit student organisation, dedicated to providing students with the best possible university experience. 

Led by a student board elected by our members, the USU provides fun things on campus, such as festivals, events and parties. We manage a diverse range of programs, including an active volunteering program and a Language Exchange, to name a few. In addition, we support over 200 Clubs and Societies as well as operate bars, food and retail outlets across campus, providing great coffee, affordable fresh food, graduation gown hire and official USYD merchandise. 

We are committed to promoting a workplace of equal opportunities. We promote healthy living and aims to protect the health and safety of staff, members and visitors to the University by providing a Smoke-Free Workplace. We do not accept unsolicited agency applications.

USU is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We’re committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all walks of life. Help make us better by joining our team. 

Due to the volume of applications received, shortlisted applicants will be contacted within approximately 4 weeks of the role’s closing date (or 4 weeks from the date of application if there is no specified closing date).