Get Involved - Protect Our Winters Australia

Get Involved

Get Involved

Want to help save winter in Australia and around the world? Protect Our Winters Australia is in need of additional hands to deliver on our mission and achieve our vision. Want to get involved? Read on!

POW Australia is a passionate community of outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and industry brands uniting the outdoor community to advocate for policy solutions to climate change. We believe our fragile alpine ecosystem and our love for adventure amongst it, demands our participation in the fight to save it and everything it represents.

For our unique alpine playgrounds to remain healthy and resilient and to protect the integrity of Australian winters, we envision a future of net-zero by 2035 where global heating has been limited to 1.5°C in line with science-based targets.

OUR MISSION

POW Australia helps our outdoor community protect the integrity of Australia’s unique alpine environment and lifestyle from climate change.

OUR VISION

A future where our alpine playground and the communities and businesses that depend on it still exist.

CURRENT VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Don’t think any of these roles sound like you, but you still want to be involved? Get in touch anyway, we are always looking for more help.

Alpine Community Contacts

POW Australia needs boots on the ground to help build relationships in key alpine communities and assist with organising events throughout the winter season.

Passionate about climate change and environmentalism? Connected with local businesses and community stakeholders? We would love to work with you to help achieve POW’s objectives!

    Become a POW contact within your local community



    In which alpine areas could you help POW with on-ground responsibilities/events?*



    How did you hear about this position?

    Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

    As a member of the Board of Directors, you will play a critical role in guiding POW Australia towards achieving its mission. We are seeking individuals with expertise in philanthropy, advocacy, fundraising, industry relations, science, business, legal affairs, and Indigenous knowledge to help shape our strategy and ensure our long-term sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your skills and experience to make a significant impact on climate action in Australia.

    This year has seen a period of rapid growth of the organisation to 40 volunteers and the release of our commissioned report by ANU, Our Changing Snowscapes. We are looking to grow our board with passionate and dedicated individuals to help POW Australia professionalise and harness the momentum of our movement. Below are the key responsibilities of the board, where each Director will be responsible for 2-3 areas.

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Governance: Provide oversight and governance to ensure POW Australia’s activities align with our constitution, mission, and values.
    • Strategic Planning: Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic plans that advance our objectives in climate advocacy and environmental protection.
    • Fundraising and Philanthropy: Support fundraising efforts, including identifying and securing new funding opportunities, and fostering relationships with donors, partners, and sponsors.
    • Business Development: Leverage business acumen to identify opportunities for organisational growth, establish partnerships with corporate entities, and ensure financial sustainability through innovative business models and revenue streams.
    • Advocacy and Public Engagement: Help amplify POW Australia’s voice in public and policy discussions, and engage with stakeholders to promote climate action.
    • Industry Relations: Develop and strengthen relationships within the winter tourism industry in Australia, including ski resorts, outdoor brands, and other key stakeholders, to promote sustainable practices and industry support for climate initiatives.
    • Legal and Compliance: Provide advice on legal matters, ensuring the organisation operates within the bounds of Australian law and maintains best practices in governance.
    • Indigenous Knowledge and Inclusion: Guide efforts to integrate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into our work, fostering inclusive and culturally respectful initiatives.

    Desired Qualifications:

    • Demonstrated expertise in two or more of the following areas: philanthropy, advocacy, fundraising, industry relations (e.g., outdoor or environmental sectors), science (particularly climate science), business, legal affairs, or Indigenous knowledge.
    • Passionate about climate action and the protection of Australia’s natural environments.
    • Previous experience serving on a board or in a leadership role within a nonprofit or advocacy organisation is an asset.
    • Locally based and connected within alpine communities is an asset.
    • Strong communication and collaboration skills.
    • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
    • Ability to complete work independently to achieve agreed outcomes in a timely manner.

    Benefits:

    • Be part of a dynamic and dedicated team working towards a critical cause.
    • Opportunities for professional growth and networking within the climate advocacy and winter community.
    • The chance to influence national and international climate policy and action.

    How to Apply:
    Interested candidates should express their interest by applying here with a CV and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and motivation for joining the Board.

      Express your interest in a directorship role







      How did you hear about this position?

      Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

      Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

      POW Australia needs your help with managing our communication channels – especially on our website and through our email list. This role will work closely with the Comms and Operations teams.

      How you can help:

      • Work with Comms and Operations to publish EDMs and blogs on the website.
      • Develop a more sophisticated EDM strategy to raise funds and deliver on organisational objectives.
      • Scope for coordinating content creators, ambassadors and the social media manager for a cohesive public facing message.
      • Scope to be involved in overall comms and media strategy to drive organisational objectives.

      About you:

      • Passionate about the outdoors, and loves skiing and/or snowboarding.
      • Motivated to drive real climate action
      • Strong organisational skills to plan ahead and deliver content on schedule
      • Strong grasp of Mailchimp and its more advanced capabilities
      • Good knowledge of WordPress and basic web design principles (HTML, CSS)

        Content Manager Enquiry







        How did you hear about this position?

        Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

        POW Australia is on the look out for education gurus! We need help to build education partnerships and develop content ready to roll out to the winter world. Even if you don’t tick all the boxes below, please reach out.

        How you can help:

        • Design activities that link to our educational objectives.
        • Create links with teachers, universities and students looking to study our unique alpine areas.
        • Design ‘user friendly’ resources (social posts, blogs, workbooks, videos etc) for POW affiliates and volunteers.
        • Willing to run education sessions for POW affiliates and volunteers.

        About You:

        • Passionate lover of winter with a drive to protect it – now and into the future.
        • Ability to work well in a team – usually remotely.
        • Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative and deliver on commitments (i.e. you do what you say you’re going to do)
        • Knowledge of basic climate and sustainability issues along with different solutions
        • Some experience in either teaching to a set curriculum (even if it is ski instructing) or developing/reviewing a curriculum.

          Express your interest for the Education Officer position



          In which alpine areas are you located near or frequent throughout the winter season?*




          How did you hear about this position?

          Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

          Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

          POW Australia needs an events coordinator to help plan and execute our big ambitions for community events in 2024.

          Events must focus on delivering educational opportunities, building POW’s capacity through acquiring volunteers and fundraising activities, as well as working with brand partners or sponsors – all while everyone has a ripper time. In short we need fun, engaging events to build our community of passionate outdoors people who want to protect Australia’s alpine environments.

          The events coordinator role will work closely with the Communications, Education and Partnerships teams, and may often engage with POW’s local alliances (currently Jindabyne, with more on the way).

          As a minimum for 2024 – POW plans for 3 events in both VIC and NSW each during the winter season, plus supporting Huw Kingston’s Alpine Odyssey film tour with events in major capital cities + many ski resorts kicking off in June. We expect that POW will be also attending a number of pre-season winter kick-off events which will start at the end of April/May.

          The events coordinator role has the potential to evolve into a POW Leadership Team position for the right individual.

          Events Coordinator – Responsibilities

          • Create a yearly event calendar with clear schedules and communication available to other volunteers to ensure effective running of events.
          • Create event proposals to deliver engaging, successful events that align with POW Australia’s goals.
          • Develop run sheets for each event to ensure smooth execution by key persons.
          • Attend a majority of scheduled events and have at least one trained and trusted POW representative at each of the remaining events where you cannot attend.
          • Liaise with venues and build an excellent long-term relationship with them.
          • Acquire sponsorship for events where required for budgeting.
          • Work with Communications/PR to promote events both before and after.
          • Work with ambassadors, local alliance groups, community and brand partners to support their events.

          Events Coordinator – Skills

          • Excellent communication and planning skills.
          • High levels of initiative.
          • Work unsupervised to a schedule but support other volunteers where needed.
          • Hustler – deliver great events on tight budgets through creativity and sponsorship opportunities.
          • Flexible with ideas and able to act under pressure as last minute changes inevitably occur.
          • Personable for building strong ongoing relationships.

            Express your interest for the Events Coordinator position



            In which alpine areas are you located near or frequent throughout the winter season?*




            How did you hear about this position?

            Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

            Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

            The Events assistant will play a pivotal role, supporting the planning the execution of POW’s impactful events calendar. Working alongside our Events Coordinator, you’ll develop, coordinate, and implement a range of activities and events that POW have planned for 2024.

            Events Assistant – Responsibilities

            • Communicate and collaborate with the Events Coordinator to assist in ticking off goals
            • Assist the Events Coordinator in the management of POW’s yearly event calendar. This will include engagement of POW volunteers to ensure there is suitable representation at each event
            • Assist in event logistics both in planning and executing the event calendar, this will include liaising with key vendors and partners to ensure clear roles and responsibilities are identified to ensure events are delivered to a high standard
            • Attend a number of events throughout the year to assist in their successful delivery
            • Work with the POW Communications and PR team to engage in the promotion of POW’s events
            • Assist in the development of event run sheets and budgets

            Events Assistant – Skills

            • A self-starter with an attention to detail
            • Organised
            • Personable and outgoing
            • Some experience in event delivery, this could be via university studies in Marketing/Events or industry placement

              Express your interest for the Events Assistant position



              In which alpine areas are you located near or frequent throughout the winter season?*




              How did you hear about this position?

              Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

              Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

              POW Australia needs a dedicated graphic designer to produce brand and campaign assets moving forward. This role will work closely with the Comms and Operations teams.

              How you can help:

              • Developing brand assets for events and partnership opportunities, such as flyers, banners and posters.
              • Assisting the education and partnerships team to develop assets as required. This may include infographics, pitch decks and general educational materials.
              • Scope to expand the role into web design.
              • Scope to expand the role to assist with merchandising.

              About you:

              • Passionate about the outdoors, and loves skiing and/or snowboarding.
              • Motivated to drive real climate action.
              • Skilled in graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or similar tools.
              • Strong understanding of visual communication principles and ability to create impactful designs that effectively convey messages related to climate change.
              • Knowledge of current design trends and ability to incorporate them into the POW’s branding and marketing materials.
              • Statistical knowledge helpful to create visually engaging infographics, charts, and diagrams to present complex climate change data.
              • Experience in designing for both print and digital platforms, including social media graphics, website banners, brochures, flyers, and posters.
              • Ability to work collaboratively with a team to develop creative concepts and campaigns.
              • Attention to detail and strong organisational skills to manage multiple design projects and meet deadlines.

                Express your interest in the Graphic Design position







                How did you hear about this position?

                Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                To increase its impact and reach, POW Australia raises additional income and support from a variety of sources. As such, fostering effective corporate partnerships and wider partnership arrangements is vital to delivering POW Australia’s Mission and realising its Vision. Over the past year, POW Australia has developed an approach to partnerships and needs additional hands to strengthen and develop our connections – we need your help!

                Partnership Officers will join POW Australia on a Volunteer basis and work alongside the Committee Member – Partnerships & Policy to gain, grow and retain partnership opportunities.

                A key goal for 2024 is to establish POW Australia as a financially sustainable not-for-profit organisation. This role is key in helping the organisation achieve this.

                How You Can Help:

                • Generate partnership opportunities with organisations and individuals whose missions align with POW Australia
                • Develop relationships with snow sport industry members (Sports Industry Australia (SIA), brands, retailers, resorts and lift companies)
                • Work collaboratively with POW Committee and Supporters to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for POW and its Partners
                • Contribute to evolving partnership strategy
                • Develop additional sources of support for POW Australia (Such as 1% For The Planet)
                • Build relationships with like minded NFP organisations

                About You:

                • Passionate lover of winter with a drive to protect it – now and into the future
                • Professional experience in relationship management, sales, account management, and/or relevant field (i.e. you know what you’re doing)
                • Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative and deliver on commitments (i.e. you do what you say you’re going to do)
                • Experience in not-for-profit sector is a plus
                • Experience in winter sports industry is a plus

                These positions, like all at POW Australia, is volunteer. Expected time commitment is negotiable, but ideally five hours per week (approx.).

                  Express your interest for the Industry Partnerships Officer position







                  How did you hear about this position?

                  Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                  Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                  Are you someone who can coordinate and lead a group of like minded people within your local area to further elevate POW Australia’s mission?

                  The Coordinator role will work with the different Local Alliance leaders from our groups across Australia and assist them in their own alliance developments. They will be a key driver in developing and bringing together our alliances, an essential part of creating our community, connecting our committee with the local community.

                  Local Alliance National Coordinator – Responsibilities

                  • Work with events, community teams, and local alliance leaders to assist in managing and coordinating the development of our alliances
                  • Develop networks of climate and snow enthusiasts into key alliances to progress our collective ambitions through events and community initiatives throughout Australia
                  • Be the core conduit to communicate the developments of each alliance to our committee for ongoing support and transparency
                  • Facilitate our alliances to hold events, education opportunities, and engagements with local issues

                  Local Alliance National Coordinator – Skills

                  • Have a demonstrated ability to communicate with community members and a range of stakeholders
                  • Have excellent written and verbal communication skills
                  • Be self-driven with an ability to work independently
                  • Have extroverted tendencies with a social flair

                    Express your interest in the Local Alliance Coordinator position







                    How did you hear about this position?

                    Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                    Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                    The POW Jindy Local Alliance was launched in 2023, and is ready to ramp up to the next level! Are you passionate about the Snowies and engaged in the local community? Step up and get involved!

                    Jindy Local Alliance Co-Leader – Responsibilities

                    • Collaborate with the existing Jindabyne crew to enhance and expand their initiatives.
                    • Coordinate with events and community teams to oversee the growth of the alliance.
                    • Mobilize local networks of climate and snow enthusiasts to join and advance collective goals.
                    • Organize and lead events and community initiatives in your area to support alliance objectives.
                    • Keep the Local Alliance Coordinator informed about the progress and developments of the alliance.
                    • Host events, educational opportunities, and engage with local issues to generate enthusiasm and participation.

                    Jindabyne Local Alliance Co-Leader – Skills

                    • Show an excellent ability to communicate with the Local Alliance team, community members, and a range of stakeholders.
                    • Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
                    • Able to effectively utilize social media for communication purposes.
                    • Be self-driven with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
                    • Comfort with public speaking is a big plus!

                      Express your interest in Co-Leader position for the Jindy Local Alliance







                      How did you hear about this position?

                      Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                      Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                      The POW Marketing & Communications Lead is responsible for the implementation of all marketing and communications strategies, including the amplification of the POW brand and image.

                      You will lead the Communications team, and work closely with the Director of Operations to execute on POW’s broader strategic goals.

                      Leveraging your experience with the goal of refining POW’s role as an inspirational and trusted brand that is accessible to existing loyalists and future advocates. To be successful in this role, you should be an experienced strategist, team leader and a precise written and visual communicator who is dedicated to expanding POW’s reach and impact.

                      Responsibilities:

                      • Collaborate with Director of Operations and other POW Directors when required on the development of the yearly integrated marketing and communication strategy
                      • Provide leadership and supervision to the content manager, social media manager, graphic designer, and other communications sub-committee volunteers
                      • Ensure that brand identity guidelines are met to guarantee consistent brand communication across all organizational platforms and marketing channels
                      • Develop and maintain an integrated communications calendar, outlining all promotional needs for campaigns, programs, events, and regular brand communications
                      • Collaborate with the POW Directors to determine campaign goals and develop promotional briefs to support those goals
                      • Direct all media programming including project and team/volunteer/contractor management of print and digital advertising, earned media, and public relations
                      • Oversee cross-functional “content team” and lead the implementation of all content production for paid and owned media channels, including paid social, paid media, email marketing, blog, video, and website
                      • Facilitate the vetting, development, and deployment of new marketing channels including new media, podcasts, vlogs, and direct marketing tools such magazines or newsletters
                      • Foster strong brand alliances by generating opportunities to plug partners into new and existing communications efforts including co-op communication strategies and list growth opportunities

                      Ideal Candidates Will Possess:

                      • Strong commitment to protecting the places that support an outdoor lifestyle and to the inclusion and representation of all the people to enjoy that environment
                      • A minimum of five years in a marketing or communications leadership role
                      • Proven experience developing and implementing successful communications strategies
                      • Strategic and tactical experience in digital and paid social media marketing
                      • Strong understanding of the role that public relations play in successful communications
                      • Experience in marketing metrics analysis and evaluation
                      • Knowledge of platforms and digital communication trends
                      • Efficiency-oriented project management skills
                      • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
                      • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field
                      • Experience within the climate change arena preferred
                      • Positive attitude and passion for the outdoors
                      • A commitment to developing strong relationships with the community and partners

                        Express your interest in the Marketing & Communications Lead position







                        How did you hear about this position?

                        Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                        Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                        Media/Content Creation

                        POW Australia needs to build a network of media production experts spread across key alpine zones to help us deliver on our strategic content goals.

                        If you love winter like we do, and are experienced in any of the following, please reach out and get involved:

                        • photography
                        • videography/video production
                        • aerial/drone content
                        • written media
                        • podcasting

                          Media Partnership Enquiry



                          What types of media do you specialise in?*

                          In which alpine areas could you help POW with content creation and other media responsibilities?*


                          How did you hear about this position?


                          Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                          POW Australia is looking for a Public Relations (PR) Officer to organize and oversee PR activities and ensure effective communication with stakeholders, media and the public.

                          Your goal will be to cultivate a positive image of POW Australia and ensure the various department efforts – education, policy and athlete alliances – are known throughout the snow industry as well as the broader Australian public.

                          Responsibilities:

                          • Act as a first point of contact for inquiries from the media and other parties
                          • Profile raising in community relevant publications (ski magazines, local news)
                          • Sorting all official organisation communications to ensure a set company line
                          • Develop PR campaigns and media relations strategies
                          • Track media coverage and follow industry trends
                          • Prepare and distribute press releases in collaboration with the content manager
                          • Work with POW’s leadership team and the broader Media & Communications sub-committee to advance POW Australia’s communications strategies.
                          • Strategising responses to big events in the climate change space for alpine regions

                          Ideal candidate will have:

                          • Experience as a Public Relations Officer or similar PR role
                          • Experience managing media relations (online, broadcast and print)
                          • Background in researching, writing and editing publications
                          • Existing relationships in endemic ski media or other media connections
                          • Familiarity with project management software and video/photo editing is a plus
                          • Strong communication ability (oral and written)
                          • Excellent organizational skills
                          • Creativity and problem-solving aptitude
                          • BA in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a related field
                          • Media training

                            Express your interest in the Public Relations Officer position







                            How did you hear about this position?

                            Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                            Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                            POW Australia is seeking a talented UX Designer/Developer to assist with various upcoming projects. This includes enhancing the user experience on our website as we expand our e-commerce activities, as well as developing tools and web applications to support our public-facing initiatives.

                            This position will work directly with Al, who leads our commerce and operations team.

                            How You Can Help

                            • Work closely with a tight-knit team to execute key initiatives, such as web apps, that will be rolled out to the winter sports community to reduce their CO2 footprint.
                            • Assist in expanding the scope and scale of key projects to generate revenue for POW.
                            • Improve the user experience on our existing website to facilitate merchandise sales growth.

                            About You

                            • You are passionate about the outdoors, and love snowsports.
                            • You are creative, innovative, and efficient.
                            • You are motivated by excellence and take initiative to work independently.
                            • You possess strong organisational and planning skills to meet deadlines.
                            • You have web development skills, including proficiency in PHP (essential).
                            • Familiarity with WordPress and WooCommerce is highly preferred.
                            • Experience with no-code development platforms like Bubble.io is preferred, or at least a willingness to learn these platforms within a short timeframe.

                            This volunteer role is expected to be ongoing as our organisation grows. However, there will be a significant commitment required to launch the first major project before the official start of the 2023 ski season.

                              Express your interest in the UX Designer/Developer position







                              How did you hear about this position?

                              Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                              Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                              POW Australia is looking for a video producer to manage key video projects from inception to completion on behalf of the organisation.

                              The video subject matter will be determined by the POW Australia committee and reflect the organisation’s campaign objectives as identified each year.

                              Examples of the kinds of video projects we are looking at working on include:

                              • Short film on public transport around our Mountain communities
                              • Short film on the Longicorn beetle and plight of the Australian snow gums

                              Responsibilities

                              • Work with the communications and media sub-committee to identify targeted video projects and then execute
                              • Assisting in the creation and refinement of scripts, project concepts, and other materials
                              • Scheduling all tasks within the video production process
                              • Locating shooting venues
                              • Sourcing and working with volunteer filmers and editors in the POW content contributor network
                              • Meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the project
                              • Ensuring that the production quality of the final product is top-notch

                              The ideal candidate will have:

                              • Experience or degree in film, media, management, production, or a related field.
                              • In-depth knowledge of video production processes and activities.
                              • Able to lead a production team and manage several tasks at once.
                              • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

                                Express your interest in the Video Production position







                                How did you hear about this position?

                                Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                                Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                                If you have meme-lord aspirations and want the snow to be here at the end of the century then read on!

                                POW Australia needs someone who can help engage the youth in our mission to protect Australia’s alpine environments.

                                This means that you need to know something about climate and environmental science (but hey the education team will help with that!), have great social media and content creation skills, and be able to deliver that information to youth in an engaging way.

                                This role will be with POW’s Communications team, but also working closely with the Education team – exclusively targeting Gen Z (high school – university students). Skills in photography, video editing and Photoshop/Canva are required.

                                How You Can Help:

                                • Create engaging online content to get people under the age of 25 excited about POW Australia.
                                • Develop an online content strategy with the goal of creating viral content for our target audience.
                                • Build audiences across key social media channels like TikTok, Instagram and Youtube.
                                • Work with the education team to create campaigns targeting key goals of POW Australia.
                                • Assist in establishing and growing relationships with school and university snow and outdoor clubs/programmes.

                                About You:

                                • Can take a photo without giving anyone double chins.
                                • Make average videos better with great song choices.
                                • Work unsupervised to a schedule and support other volunteers where needed.
                                • Excellent communication and team working skills.
                                • High organisational skills to meet deadlines and work with the existing organisational systems.
                                • May currently be studying environmental science or communications/marketing.

                                  Express your interest for the Youth Engagement Officer position



                                  In which alpine areas are you located near or frequent throughout the winter season?*




                                  How did you hear about this position?

                                  Please attach your CV (PDF format, 5mb limit)

                                  Join the Protect Our Winters Australia newsletter

                                  Protect Our Winters Australia acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which we live, work and play. We pay respects to the Elders, past, present and future, across the many Nations. Their ancestral ties to country have never been extinguished, and sovereignty never ceded.

                                  protect our winters australia