2027 Festival Assistant – Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

Queensland's leading regional school

Whitsunday Anglican School is an independent, co-educational Day and Boarding School from K - 12, situated in the beautiful surroundings of tropical Mackay and the Whitsunday region. The School provides a balanced education that is focused on intellectual development, personal growth, spirituality, and community service.

The School offers a first-class education with a proven history of outstanding student outcomes and staff development.

About the Festival:

The Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival is the largest youth literature festival in regional Queensland, attracting over 7,000 students each year from Schools as far North as Townsville, South to Rockhampton and West to Mistake Creek. 

In its 22nd year, over 80 schools enjoyed the 2026 Festival's three-day programme, featuring 17 acclaimed presenters, authors, poets, illustrators, and performers in 90 fun-filled sessions and workshops for students from early years to Year 12.

Whitsunday Voices is a non-profit organisation that relies on strategic partnerships with local businesses, volunteers and ticket sales to continue to deliver a fun, educational, cultural and community-building experience for students across the Mackay region and regional Queensland.

About the Role:

The Festival Assistant will support the successful delivery of the annual Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, working closely with the Festival Manager to assist with events, programs, and projects associated with the festival.

This role provides administrative and operational support across a range of festival activities, including assisting with stakeholder communication, publicity and marketing activities, logistics, ticketing, volunteer support, and general event preparation and delivery.

This is a part-time term-time position working 20 hours per week. Flexibility will be required with this role, as additional hours will be required in the lead-up to and during the festival period to assist with final preparations, event delivery, and the successful operation of festival activities.

Skills & experience:

• Experience in festival and event coordination is desirable, however not essential.

• Strong administrative skills, including maintaining accurate records, databases, meeting documentation, invoicing, and general festival administration.

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

• Experience providing event and operational support, including assisting with logistics, bookings, ticketing, volunteer support, and event preparation.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise professionally with schools, presenters, sponsors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.

• Ability to support marketing and promotional activities, including digital communications, website updates, and promotional materials.

• Confidence using technology and systems, including databases, online ticketing platforms, invoicing systems, and Microsoft Office applications.

• A proactive and flexible approach, with the ability to work collaboratively with the Festival Manager and wider School community.

• Ability to work additional hours during peak festival periods.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications or experience.

• Blue or Exemption Card (or the ability to gain one)

• Current First Aid and CPR Certificate (or the ability to gain one)

Expressions of interest should be addressed to:

The Principal, Mr Andrew Wheaton

Role Commencement: Term 1, January 2027

Applications close: 15 September 2026

The School reserves the right to appoint prior to applications closing.

Employee Benefits

• Highly competitive salary structure

• Salary sacrificing packages and Corporate Superannuation Scheme

• Staff concession on fees for children attending Whitsunday Anglican School.

• Relevant and engaging professional learning opportunities to support career growth.

• Health and Wellbeing – Access to a range of initiatives that promote health and wellbeing, including Fitness Passport, Medibank Private corporate health insurance benefits, wellbeing programs, and resources to support staff health and wellness. 

• Welcoming Staff Social Club

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Whitsunday Anglican School takes child protection seriously. All candidates for roles at the School are subject to screening and assessment against child safety standards as part of our thorough recruitment process.