© 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
And help keep families close.
Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania is the charity partner for Pin & Win at the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
We need volunteers to sell souvenir Lexus Melbourne Cup pins at Flemington across seven race days in September, October and November.
What you'll be doing
You will work in a pair or a small group at a set spot in a public area of the racecourse. You approach racegoers, explain what the pins are, and sell them. You take payment and hand over the pin. That is the whole role.
You will be on your feet for most of the shift. You will talk to hundreds of people, and most of them are in a good mood. Some will say no and walk past. That is normal and it is not personal.
What we provide
- A Pin & Win t-shirt to wear over your own clothes
- Your VRC accreditation pass, which gets you into the course
- A briefing on the day so you know your spot, your team leader and how to take payment
- Regular breaks
- Food and drinks throughout your shift
- A team leader you can find at any point during the day
What you bring
- Comfortable shoes you can stand in for hours
- Clothing that suits the weather and the dress standard below
- A friendly manner with strangers
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.
Why it matters
Pin & Win started in 1995 and has raised over $10 million for Australian charities. We have been the charity partner in 2024 and 2025, and those two carnivals raised $1.4 million between them.
That money goes towards Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania. It covers the beds, the meals, the laundry and the quiet lounge rooms that families use while their child is having treatment.
2026 is our third year as charity partner, and this opportunity is unlikely to come around again.
Is volunteering right for you?
You do not need fundraising experience. You need to be comfortable starting a conversation with a stranger and asking them to buy something, and you need to be 18 or over on the day of your shift.
This is a volunteer role and it is unpaid. There is no payment, honorarium, travel allowance or reimbursement of any kind. It is not a work placement, an internship or a pathway to paid employment, and we are not able to provide employment references, character references or visa documentation based on Pin & Win volunteering.
You will also be following instructions in English and speaking with members of the public throughout your shift, so you need enough English to do both confidently. There is no test. Please just make an honest assessment before you register.
Thank you for wanting to be part of our team.
Ten shifts to choose from. Sign up for one or sign up for all of them.
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
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.
