What behind the scenes means
On meet day, you see 20 people making it run. What you don't see is the work that took place in the weeks before: the meet program being built, the entries processed, the equipment checked, the results from the previous meet published, the newsletter drafted and sent, the social posts scheduled, the committee meeting held to approve the budget.
QMA is a volunteer-run organisation. The committee, the administrators, the communications team: all of it is people who care about masters athletics giving their time outside work hours to keep the sport alive. Behind-the-scenes volunteering is how that happens.
The work includes:
- Meet programming and scheduling
- Results processing and publication after each meet
- Records management and verification
- Membership administration
- Communication and newsletter production
- Social media and website updates
- Grant applications and financial administration
- Venue coordination and equipment logistics
Roles we always need
Three areas consistently need more people:
Communications. Someone who can write clearly and post regularly to social media and the QMA website. You don't need to be a journalist. You need to be organised, reliable, and able to produce short content quickly. Photography experience is a bonus.
Results. After every meet, results need to be processed, formatted, and published, usually within 24 hours. If you're comfortable with spreadsheets and can work to a deadline, this role has your name on it. It matters to athletes more than most people realise: results are why people compete.
Committee. QMA's management committee meets monthly, typically on a weeknight. Meetings are run online. The committee makes decisions about programming, finances, governance, and strategy. It's open to all members. Serving on a committee isn't glamorous. It is how things get done.
Time and skills
Behind-the-scenes roles are flexible in a way that meet-day volunteering isn't. Most of them can be done from home, on your own schedule, as long as deadlines are met. They don't require you to be physically present at a venue, which makes them accessible to people in regional areas, people with family commitments, and people whose Saturday mornings are already spoken for.
The skills that make someone effective in these roles are: being organised, following through on commitments, communicating clearly, and caring about the outcome. Those are not rare skills. They're just not always in the places the sport needs them.
Get involved
Contact the QMA secretary to express interest. Let us know which area appeals to you and what your background is. We'll match you with what's most needed and introduce you to whoever currently holds that responsibility.
Management committee meeting dates are published in the news section. All members are welcome to attend as observers before deciding whether to put their hand up for a formal role.