Working Member Roles

Working Members form the backbone of the Co-op and do the majority of the work to keep things rolling! All Members are invited to work in the Co-op in a large range of tasks that cover almost the entirety of Co-op functioning.

The commitment and responsibility required by Working Member roles is as varied as the range of roles themselves. From drop-in vollies, regular in-store helpers, and Working Groups helping to nut-out strategic aspects of the Co-op, to the Board who provides ultimate legal oversight! There are roles that suit a large diversity of interests, availability and accessibility for our members.

For information on the discounts and benefits of becoming a Working Member, head to our page on becoming a Member.

Most Teams are coordinated by our Working Members Manager. If you’re interested in trying a role, get in touch via the form at the bottom of the page. Let them know your availability, how much time your like to contribute and what interests you 🙂

Current Role Openings/Needs – see below for details, use the contact form to get in touch:

  • Morning Sparkle Team – Mon/Wed-Fri, 10-11am
  • Cleaning Team – Mon-Sun, afternoons/evenings, 1hr
  • Cafe Coordinators – Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm
  • Shop Coordinators – Mon-Sun, between 10am-7pm
  • Unpack Fresh Delivery – Tues afternoon, 2hrs/fortnightly
  • Restocking Team – Weekday afternoons/evenings, 1hr

Joining a Working Member Team is an accessible way to get to know the Co-op – both how it works and the wonderful community! Teams are groups of Working Members who may work together or on a rotating roster, doing similar tasks around The Co-op. These are key roles that we depend on to keep The Co-op functioning day-to-day. See below for more details

Squeaky Clean Team

Daily, mornings and afternoons

Help out with keeping our shop clean! This can include helping Shop Coordinators set up for the day, sanitising, sweeping, mopping, keeping our toilet clean, general beautification, and more. You can also help with specialised roles, like weekly fridge cleaning.

We also hold regular Cleaning Bees, where everyone pitches in for a big clean up!

Kitchen Sparkle Team –

Mon – Sat afternoons or jar sanitising anytime

Help support our lovely cooks by washing dishes or packing up left overs, after lunch.

This Team also sanitise and sort our jar/container donations, so they’re ready for customers to use in-store.

Great for having a chat while you work or popping in your headphones and getting in the zone.

Wednesday Dinner Team

Wednesdays, between 5.30pm – 9.30pm

Wednesday dinners are generally a nice slower pace than our usual lunches. Join the Dinner crew in chopping veggies, rolling tortillas, baking donuts, and generally making good vibes happen.

You can also help out the Cafe Coordinator with serving customers who come along for dinner, donuts, and drinks. Of course, we also need hands for the essential task of cleaning up the space and the dishes afterwards.

Enjoy a free dinner for your efforts!

Driving (aka Co-op Vroom Vroom) Team

Most days, from 4pm or 6pm

Have you got a set of wheels you’d like to put to use? Our fleet of drivers helps with collecting free bread for the Co-op from Three Mills Bakery, fo our members to enjoy.

We also depend on help with delivering online grocery orders, especially during lockdown periods.

Driving roles receive store credit, to compensate for use of your vehicle.

Rooftop Gardening Team

Saturday mornings

Help with our little gardening patch on the Lena Karmel rooftop. Watch this lovely little video to get a sneak peak into what our Gardening Team is up to.

Products Team

Various shifts

The Products Team keep our shelves and our hearts full. Help us unpack deliveries of dry good or fresh food on Tuesday/Friday afternoons.

You can also collect market produce from the markets for us on a Sunday morning, or do product research from home, with guidance from our Products Manager.

Stock Wrangling Team

Every day, flexible times

Help with restocking our shelves, while getting to know our people and our products. We need help with this most days.

If you have a few hours to spare and great attention to detail, we need help with the important role of packing online orders for collection/delivery.

The Lunch Bunch

Mon – Sat, 10am or 12pm

Come along in the morning to help our cooks with preparing lunch, by chopping veggies and swapping stories. Or help the cafe crew with serving lunch from 12pm.

This is a great way to get to know other Co-op members and our community who drop in for tasty organic goodness each day.

Dock ‘n’ Roll Team

Flexible shifts

Help us keep the loading dock tidy! This Team does the essential role of collecting our soft-plastics recycling & compost.

We also need people to collect our donated bottles, as part of the ‘Container Deposit Scheme‘.

And if you can spare an hour each week to clean up the dock space and keep everything in order, we’ll be eternally grateful!

Tastemakers Team

Mon, Wed, Fri – afternoons

Want to get creative in the kitchen? This Team provides the Co-op with tasty creations! We have bakers cooking set Co-op recipes on Mon/Wed/Fri. You can also bake on consignment and make your own recipes to sell through The Co-op.

Our yoghurt makers use our leftover milk on Wednesdays to create tasty yoghurt for us to sell in the shop.

We have also had a great preserving crew in the past, making jams, chutneys, pickles, and preserves for Co-op leftovers. We just need a new enthusiastic member to take over the reigns and get this started again.

Take-it-home Team

Flexible shifts

If you don’t have much time to be in the Co-op, you can give us a hand by collecting, washing, and returning our Tea Towels. We also need help with various data entry, product research, or comms roles that can be done at home!

Grant Writing

Get your Canbureaucratic self into action to help the Co-op.

Woodwork/Cabinet Making

We need help making new shelving, garden beds, furniture.. If you have professional or homey skills, we’ll be sure to supply you with an enthusiastic bunch of helpers 🙂

Communications

There are so many ways to help with Communications at the Co-op! Assist our Comms Manager with compiling our newsletter, posting on social media, writing stories for our blog, making/distributing poster, and much more!

Craft Coordinator

Work with the Comms and Space Re-vamp teams to co-ordinate and facilitate craft-bees. We’re keen to have someone teach a Print Making demonstration and help us print some more Co-op merch!

Language Translation

We’re making the Co-op more welcoming of our neighbours by providing website and promotional content, and some in person activities in both English and Chinese. If you’re a fluent native speaker and/or writer, we’d love to have you on board to assist when required.

Occupational Therapist

Help us get the most out of our space for the most benefit!

AV Technician

Come along to events at the Co-op and operate our Audio/Visual set-up.

Acoustic Soup Helpers Wednesdays monthly, 5pm – 10pm

Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, the Co-op runs an awesome fundraiser event with live music and tasty soup! We need helpers to make this happen – from set-up, cooking, serving dinner, doing dishes, packing up, to performing your talents. Let us know if you can help for some or all of the night, with free dinner and a show, of course!

3-3.5 hour shift per week, min. 6 month commitment

Shop Coordinators

Our Shop Coordinators are an integral part of the Co-op. They are responsible for opening and closing the shop, operating the till and processing memberships, providing guidance to other drop-in or rostered ‘vollies’, taking care of stock, and generally overseeing things go well in the shop.

It is ideal if members get to know the Co-op a little before nominating for this role.

In acknowledgement of the increased commitment and responsibility of this role, Shop Coordinators receive $10 of vouchers to use in the shop per rostered hour.

Cafe Coordinators

Our Cafe coordinators are responsible for setting up and packing down the cafe space, putting through sales at the till, preparing drinks and serving food, as well as overseeing that the cafe area is kept clean and tidy throughout the shift.

In acknowledgement of the increased commitment and responsibility of this role, Cafe Coordinators receive $10 of vouchers to use in the shop per rostered hour.

Interested in nutting out things relevant to the big picture? Our Working Groups are the place where we put our minds to the tricky questions and challenges in our Co-op. In collaboration with our Staff and Board, our Working Groups strive to come up with policy and solutions in ways that best serve our community as a whole.

  • Original Sovereign Solidarity
  • Return-for-Labour
  • Purchasing Policy
  • Staff Review
  • Covid-19 Response Strategy
  • Strategic Planning
  • Finances
  • Relational/Grievance/Behavioural Policy

Our Board Directors are elected from our membership at our Annual General Meeting. Being a Board Director is a satisfying way to help ensure our Co-op runs effectively according to our strategic vision and objectives. You’ll get to work with a committed team, learn about co-operative processes and develop or share your organisational, facilitation, strategic planning and financial competency skills.

1 hour shift per fortnight

Lunch Clean-up

Help our cooks with cleaning up after our stupendous lunches.

Any weekday

Cleaning

You’ll be buddied up with someone to keep the Co-op sparkling and hygienic. Expect to don a broom, mop, cloth or scrubbing brush. Come wearing appropriate clothing for the job.

5:30-6:30pm weekdays

Jar Sanitising

You’ll be buddied up with someone to put donated jars and containers through our sanitiser to prepare for re-use.

10:30-11:30am daily

Fridge Cleaning

You’ll be buddied up with someone to help keep the fridges sparkling and hygienic.

1:30-2:30pm Saturdays

Re-stocking

You’ll be buddied up with someone to check on stock levels and refill where needed.

2:30pm-3:30pm on Tues, Thurs, Sat

Cutting Cheese

We get superb cheddar cheese in bulk, it needs cutting up!

Flexible hours

Morning Sparkle Team

Keep our toilet area hygienic and shiny and help our Shop Coordinators set things up for the day. Will include cleaning, care of produce and general beautification!

Soft Plastics Recycling

Drop our soft plastics off for recycling at a local deposit spot.

Flexible regular slot

10am-11am Daily

2 hour shift per fortnight

Product Research

We want to make sure the stock on the shelf reflects the needs of our members and our organisational values. Help with researching suppliers and background ethics of products.

Flexible hours & location

Print our fortnightly e-newsletter and promotional flyers.
Helpful if you are comfortable with formatting documents and have access to a printer (though not essential).

Thursdays fortnightly

Compile Fresh In!

Enter content into our mailchimp e-newsletter template. Requires attention-to-detail and some wordsmithing skills.

Tuesdays fortnightly

Data Entry

Help out with entering operational data

Timing flexible

Serving Lunch

Help serve up our community favourite lunches.

12-1:30pm weekdays

Comms Content Creation

Do you like creative or research-based writing? Are you familiar with and passionate about the values and objectives of the Food Co-op? We want you!!

Flexible hours & location

Packing Online Orders

A fun way to put your bulk-buying skills into action! You’ll also receive a $10 shop voucher per hour worked!

Wednesdays from 10am-12pm, receive $10 food vouchers/hour!

2 hour shift per month

Recycling

Drop off polystyrene and containers for recycling in Fyshwick. Vehicle required.

Regular flexible slot

Unpack ‘Dry Goods’ Delivery

You’ll be buddied up with someone to unpack our dry-goods delivery. Having attention to detail will be a handy quality!

Fortnightly Fridays from 3-5pm, 4-6pm, 5-7pm

Wash Tea Towels

Our kitchen tea towels need washing. Pick them up, take them home to wash then bring them back!

Poster & Flyer Distribution

Help us spread the word about the Food Co-op around Canberra! We’ll be targeting the public bollards in each suburb.

6th or 7th day of each month

Yoghurt Making

Join this team and you’ll learn how to make our Co-op yoghurt!!

3:30-5:30pm Wednesdays

Pickup Fresh Produce (from EPIC Markets)

You’ll be buddied up with someone to pick-up fresh produce from the EPIC markets.

Saturday mornings, vehicle may be required

Acoustic Soup

Help out at our monthly soup and music event!

Between 3-10pm last Wed of the month, dinner & entry included

Online Order Delivery

Deliver orders to fellow members and the public who are unable to come into the Co-op.
You’ll need a license and a vehicle for this role (or a bicycle trailer if you’re super fit). You’ll also receive a $10 shop voucher per hour worked!

Wednesday afternoons

2 hour shift per week

Unpack Fresh Produce Delivery

Do you have an eye for detail and passionate about fruit and veg?! Join the team to unpack our weekly fresh produce delivery from the Sydney markets.

3-5pm, 4-6pm and 5-7pm on Tuesdays

Baking

Our baked good that are served in the cafe are whipped up by our members. If you enjoy baking and have some sure-as recipes, this could be for you.

Roof Top Garden

Help out in our Rooftop garden to get your hands dirty and learn about composting and growing food!

Friday mornings, drop-in also possible

Bread Pick-up

We are fortunate to receive end-of-day bread from a local Canberra sourdough baker. We need folks to pick it up from Pialligo and deliver it to the Co-op.

Weekdays, car required, Co-op vouchers issued

Lunch Prep

Help our wonderful cooks with chopping and general prep and have some laughs and learn about African cuisine while you’re at it!

10am-12pm Mon to Sat

Other Sporadic Roles

Grant Writing

Get your Canbureaucratic self into action to help the Co-op.

Woodwork/Cabinet Making

We need help making new shelving, garden beds, furniture.. If you have professional or homey skills, we’ll be sure to supply you with an enthusiastic bunch of helpers 🙂

Preserving Produce

Help out with preserving seasonal produce for sale in the shop.

Craft Coordinator

Work with the Comms and Space Re-vamp teams to co-ordinate and facilitate craft-bees!

Sundays, plus prep

Language Translation

We’re making the Co-op more welcoming of our neighbours by providing website and promotional content, and some in person activities in both English and Chinese. If you’re a fluent native speaker and/or writer, we’d love to have you on board to assist when required.

Occupational Therapist

Help us get the most out of our space for the most benefit!

Shop & Cafe Coordinators

3-3.5 hour shift per week, min. 6 month commitment

Shop Coordinators

Our Shop Coordinators are an integral part of the Co-op. They are responsible for opening and closing the shop, operating the till and processing memberships, providing guidance to other drop-in or rostered ‘vollies’, taking care of stock, and generally overseeing things go well in the shop.

It is ideal if members get to know the Co-op a little before nominating for this role.

In acknowledgement of the increased commitment and responsibility of this role, Shop Coordinators receive $10 of vouchers to use in the shop per rostered hour.

Cafe Coordinators

Our Cafe coordinators are responsible for setting up and packing down the cafe space, putting through sales at the till, preparing drinks and serving food, as well as overseeing that the cafe area is kept clean and tidy throughout the shift.

In acknowledgement of the increased commitment and responsibility of this role, Cafe Coordinators receive $10 of vouchers to use in the shop per rostered hour.

Online Ordering Coordinators

Our Online Ordering Coordinators are responsible for processing and packing online orders. These positions are currently only available to people who are already trained as shop or cafe coordinators.

In acknowledgement of the increased commitment and responsibility of this role, Online Ordering Coordinators receive $10 of vouchers to use in the shop per rostered hour.

Working Groups

Interested in nutting out things relevant to the big picture? Our Working Groups are the place where we put our minds to the tricky questions and challenges in our Co-op. In collaboration with our Staff and Board, our Working Groups strive to come up with policy and solutions in ways that best serve our community as a whole.

  • Original Sovereign Solidarity
  • Return-for-Labour
  • Purchasing Policy
  • Staff Review
  • Covid-19 Response Strategy
  • Strategic Planning
  • Finances
  • Relational/Grievance/Behavioural Policy

Board Directors

Our Board Directors are elected from our membership at our Annual General Meeting. Being a Board Director is a satisfying way to help ensure our Co-op runs effectively according to our strategic vision and objectives. You’ll get to work with a committed team, learn about co-operative processes and develop or share your organisational, facilitation, strategic planning and financial competency skills.

Contact our Working Members Manager to get involved:

Let them know your availability, how much time your like to contribute and what interests you 🙂

Due to contact form issues, please send your enquiry to:

workers@cbrfoodcoop.org.au

The Food Co-op © 2020