First GC2018 venue opens for volunteer processing

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones today officially opened the first operational venue of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games’ (GC2018).

Ms Jones said the Volunteer Selection Centre (VSC) at Burleigh would host interviews of up to 25,000 volunteer applicants over the next four months.

“The opening of the Volunteer Selection Centre is a significant milestone as we inch ever closer to the 4 – 15 April Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” Ms Jones said.

“We were overwhelmed with volunteer applications recently, with more than 47,000 submissions received from around the state and around Australia.

“Our volunteers will be a key part of the GC2018 family and will play an integral role in the Games in just under a year from now.

“After going through the formal selection process here at Burleigh, up to 15,000 of our volunteers will receive customised training, specific to individual roles and venues, delivered by TAFE Queensland.”

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman, Peter Beattie said opening the VSC was another milestone on the road to GC2018.

“Receiving 47,000 volunteer applications was a terrific result but now the hard part of actually selecting our great team begins,” Mr Beattie said.

“Inside the VSC, applicants will move through an ‘excite and educate’ zone which features an overview of GC2018 Vision, Sports and Venues, the Gold Coast, the GC2018 Ambassadors and Local Indigenous Culture.

“For all applicants, it is important to remember this isn’t a first come, first served process. This is based on merit with all applicants to undertake a range of scenario questioning and one on one interviews.”

GOLDOC Chief Executive Officer, Mark Peters said GC2018 volunteers will be the face of the Games.

“The enthusiasm of volunteers is infectious. They’ll play a key role in shaping the Games experience for athletes, spectators and visitors and promote the Sunshine State to the world.

“Each and everyone has their own unique story and reasons for putting their hand up and I’m looking forward to meeting as many of them as possible ahead of the Games.”

This phase of the volunteer selection process will take four months, with successful applicants to be notified later in the year.

Media contact: Emma Clarey 0437 069 516