VOLUNTEER

Volunteer sign-up is now closed!

We require volunteers to help with a number of tasks, from little to big, and both before and during the conference.
Dedication and hard work on behalf of volunteers is essential to making this conference a success!

We appreciate your interest in getting involved!

VOLUNTEERING AT SMM2024

INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTEERING

Besides the feel-good emotions associated with giving back to your marine mammal community and a stylish volunteer garment, if you are able to volunteer a minimum of 12 hours of your time, you can apply for a volunteer position to receive a reimbursement towards your conference registration costs. Student members and low income country members will be reimbursed 50% of their conference registration, while full members will be reimbursed $100 USD ($154 AUD) of their conference registration.

REQUIREMENTS TO VOLUNTEER

The following are the requirements to receive a registration reimbursement for the conference:

  • You must be a current member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy and be registered for the conference by the Early-Bird Registration deadline on July 17 , 2024 at 12pm, Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (GMT+8).
  • Volunteers are required to work for at least 12 hours to be eligible for a registration reimbursement.
  • Volunteer shifts are usually not less than 4 straight hours and may start as early as 7:00 AM and end as late as 11:00 PM.
  • Fluent in English (other languages are very helpful!).
  • There will be a mandatory volunteer training on Sunday, November 10.
  • All your shifts must be covered to receive reimbursement. All refunds will be issued AFTER THE CONFERENCE once all volunteer shifts are complete.

Volunteers, like all conference delegates, will also be able to purchase any extras (e.g. closing celebration tickets or other conference merchandise) using the same method as other delegates via the normal conference login.

Volunteers not in need of registration reimbursement are welcome to apply. Please be sure to let the volunteer coordinator know if this is the case.

VOLUNTEER TASKS

Volunteers will wear identifying garments provided by the SMM2024 Committee during their shifts. Tasks may include, but are not limited to, assisting with:

  • Conference Events (e.g. PODs)
  • Greetings, directions and general information
  • Help Desk
  • Merchandise Sales
  • Pre-conference online support
  • Poster Session (i.e. set-up and take-down)
  • Registration Desk
  • Room Monitor at plenary sessions, concurrent sessions and awards ceremony
  • Welcoming Reception/Closing Celebration

More information on volunteer shift scheduling will be available after the volunteer selection process is complete. 

HOW WILL VOLUNTEERS BE SELECTED?

Volunteers will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and the planning committee has the right to refuse a volunteer. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified shortly after submitting their application.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Volunteer sign-up will open June 12, 2024 at 12 (noon), Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (GMT+8)!

In order to complete the volunteer application, please login to SMM and then move to the conference software. The volunteer application will be available on the profile home page of the conference software. Click HERE to login to SMM. 

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@marinemammalscience.org if you have any questions. The conference Planning Committee and Society Board have the right to refuse a volunteer.

INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTEERING

Besides the feel-good emotions associated with giving back to your marine mammal community and a stylish volunteer garment, if you are able to volunteer a minimum of 12 hours of your time, you can apply for a volunteer position to receive a reimbursement towards your conference registration costs. Student members and low income country members will be reimbursed 50% of their conference registration, while full members will be reimbursed $100 USD ($154 AUD) of their conference registration.

REQUIREMENTS TO VOLUNTEER

The following are the requirements to receive a registration reimbursement for the conference:

  • You must be a current member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy and be registered for the conference by the Early-Bird Registration deadline on July 24, 2024.
  • Volunteers are required to work for at least 12 hours to be eligible for a registration reimbursement.
  • Volunteer shifts are usually not less than 4 straight hours and may start as early as 7:00 AM and end as late as 11:00 PM.
  • Fluent in English (other languages are very helpful!).
  • There will be a mandatory volunteer training on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
  • All your shifts must be covered to receive reimbursement. All refunds will be issued AFTER THE CONFERENCE once all volunteer shifts are complete.

Volunteers, like all conference delegates, will also be able to purchase any extras (e.g. closing celebration tickets or other conference merchandise) using the same method as other delegates via the normal conference login.

Volunteers not in need of registration reimbursement are welcome to apply. Please be sure to let the volunteer coordinator know if this is the case.

VOLUNTEER TASKS

Volunteers will wear identifying garments provided by the SMM2024 Committee during their shifts. Tasks may include, but are not limited to, assisting with:

  • Conference Events (e.g. PODs)
  • Greetings, directions and general information
  • Help Desk
  • Merchandise Sales
  • Pre-conference online support
  • Poster Session (i.e. set-up and take-down)
  • Registration Desk
  • Room Monitor at plenary sessions, concurrent sessions and awards ceremony
  • Welcoming Reception/Closing Celebration

More information on volunteer shift scheduling will be available after the volunteer selection process is complete. 

HOW WILL VOLUNTEERS BE SELECTED?

Volunteers will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and the planning committee has the right to refuse a volunteer. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified shortly after submitting their application.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Volunteer sign-up will open June 12, 2024 at 12 (noon), Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (GMT+8)!

In order to complete the volunteer application, please login to SMM and then move to the conference software. The volunteer application will be available on the profile home page of the conference software. Click HERE to login to SMM. 

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@marinemammalscience.org if you have any questions. The conference Planning Committee and Society Board have the right to refuse a volunteer.