© RMHC. The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates; McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities Logo, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and keeping Families Close. The Home Away from Home Inc trading as Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania (ABN 88 762 184 608) is a Public Benevolent Institution and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the Australian Taxation Office. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Volunteer for VRC Pin & Win 2026
Spend a day at the races
Help keep families close.
Join Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania at Flemington this spring and help raise funds for families with seriously ill or injured children.
We’re looking for volunteers to sell souvenir Melbourne Cup pins across selected race days in September, October and November.
Choose one shift that suits you, or join us for more. No fundraising experience needed.
A day at the races for a great cause
What you'll be doing
You’ll work with a small team at a set location around Flemington Racecourse or Crown Palladium, selling souvenir Melbourne Cup pins to racegoers.
You’ll chat with people, take payments and hand over their pins. It’s simple, social and you’ll have a team leader there to support you throughout your shift.
Never done anything like this before? That’s completely fine. We’ll show you everything you need to know.
What we provide
- Entry into Flemnigton Racecourse or Crown Palladium
- A Pin & Win t-shirt to wear over your own clothes
- VRC accreditation
- Training and support from your team leader
- Regular breaks
- Food and drinks throughout your shift
What you'll need
- Comfortable shoes as you’ll be on your feet for much of the shift
- Clothing suitable for the weather and the dress standard outlined below
- A friendly manner and willingness to chat with racegoers
- 18 years or older
Choose a shift that suits you
You don’t need to volunteer for every event. Even one shift makes a difference.
All events are at Flemington Racecourse except the Oaks Lunch, which is at Crown Palladium in Southbank.
Shift times include your briefing at the beginning and pack-up at the end.
Choose whichever date and shift works for you. If you’d like to volunteer more than once, we’d love to have you!
Ready to join us?
Choose your shift and register your details below.
It only takes a few minutes to register, and you can choose one shift or as many as you like.
What happens after you register
- You register. The form takes about ten minutes. Have a headshot photo ready before you start.
- We review your registration. We will be in touch if anything is missing.
- We arrange your VRC accreditation. Everyone entering Flemington on a race day needs an accreditation pass issued by the Victoria Racing Club. We use the details and photo you give us.
- You get your shift confirmation. This will tell you where to go, who to look for and what to wear.
- You receive your pass and t-shirt. Details come with your confirmation.
Your accreditation pass and conduct on course
You will be at Flemington as a representative of Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania, so both our Code of Conduct and the VRC’s accreditation terms apply to you. We will send you the full details with your shift confirmation. The main points:
- Your pass is issued to you personally and cannot be given, sold or lent to anyone else
- Wear your lanyard around your neck and keep it visible for the whole shift
- Stay in the zones your pass covers. Marquees, the Birdcage and restricted areas are off limits
- If you lose your pass, tell us straight away. The VRC charges $50 for a replacement
- No alcohol at any point while you are on shift
- Be respectful of racegoers, keep walkways clear and do not block anyone’s view of the track
- Wear your Pin & Win t-shirt with neat, comfortable clothing and closed shoes
- If a racegoer offers you a gift or a tip, please decline politely
Why it matters
One shift can make a big difference.
Pin & Win has raised more than $10 million for Australian charities since 1995.
Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania has been selected as the charity partner for Pin & Win at the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Every pin sold helps us provide accommodation, care and support for families who need to travel far from home for their child’s treatment – helping them stay together when they need each other most.
In 2024 and 2025, Pin & Win raised $1.4 million for Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania.
2026 is our third year as charity partner, and this opportunity is unlikely to come around again.
By giving just one shift, you can be part of making this year count.
Which events can you volunteer for?
All events are at Flemington Racecourse except the Oaks Lunch, which is at Crown Palladium in Southbank.
| Date | Event | Location | Volunteer Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Saturday 12 September 2026 |
Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day |
Flemington |
10.15am – 4.30pm |
|
Saturday 3 October 2026 |
TAB Turnbull Stakes Day |
Flemington |
10.30am – 5.00pm |
|
Saturday 31 October 2026 |
Howden Victoria Derby Day |
Flemington |
8.30am – 1pm 8.30am – 5pm |
|
Tuesday 3 November 2026 |
Lexus Melbourne Cup Day |
Flemington |
7.30am – 12.30pm 7.30am – 4pm |
|
Wednesday 4 November 2026 |
Oaks Lunch |
Crown Palladium |
11.30am – 2.30pm |
|
Thursday 5 November 2026 |
Crown Oaks Day |
Flemington |
10am – 1pm 10am – 4pm |
|
Saturday 7 November 2026 |
TAB Champion Stakes Day |
Flemington |
9.30am – 1.30pm 9.30am – 4pm |
Shift times include your briefing at the start and pack-up at the end. Please only choose shifts you can commit to in full. Volunteers who leave partway through leave their pair short on a busy day.
Is volunteering right for you?
You don’t need fundraising experience. You do need to be comfortable approaching people, starting a conversation and asking them to buy a pin. You’ll be speaking with members of the public throughout your shift, and you must be 18 or over on the day.
This is an unpaid volunteer role. We’re unable to provide payment, travel reimbursement or an honorarium. Pin & Win volunteering is not a work placement, internship or pathway to employment, and we can’t provide employment or character references or visa documentation as part of the role.
You’ll need to be comfortable communicating in English. You’ll be following instructions from your team leader and speaking with racegoers throughout your shift, so you’ll need enough English to do both confidently. There’s no test – we simply ask you to consider this before registering.
If that all sounds good, we’d love to have you on the team!
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to volunteer at more than one event?
No. One shift is genuinely useful. Many volunteers do several and the November days are the busiest, so those are where we need the most people.
Do I need to be over 18?
Yes, on the day of your shift. This is a condition of accreditation at Flemington, so we cannot make exceptions.
Can I volunteer if I am not an Australian citizen?
Yes, as long as you are 18 or over and meet the English requirement. There is no residency or visa requirement to volunteer. Please just note that we cannot provide any documentation about your volunteering for a visa or employment process.
Can I bring a friend?
Yes, as long as they register separately and get their own accreditation. Let us know in the form if you would like to be rostered together and we will do our best.
Do I get to watch the races?
You will see plenty of the day, and you will be at Flemington during the biggest week of the racing calendar. You are there to work your shift, though, and you cannot use spectator seating.
What if it rains?
The races go ahead. Bring a jacket. Most selling spots have some cover but not all of them.
What if I need to cancel?
Please tell us as soon as you know, so we can fill your place.
Ronald McDonald House would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, skies and waterways on which we work. We recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples amongst the families we care for, our employees, volunteers and supporters, who form part of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth. We pay our respects to them and their Elders past and present.
