On 7 December 2024, the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association (AJPA) will host our highly anticipated National Jigsaw Puzzle Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Albert Park (VIC). This exciting event brings together puzzle enthusiasts from across the country to test their puzzling speed and skills. The AJPA is run entirely by volunteers. For our events to run smoothly, we rely heavily on volunteers. This is where you come in!
Volunteering for this event offers several rewarding benefits:
1. Be part of a unique and fun event
If you love puzzles or enjoy fast-paced, exciting competitions, being a volunteer places you at the heart of the action. You’ll get to witness firsthand the incredible focus and speed of Australia’s top puzzlers as they race to complete intricate jigsaws. It’s a great opportunity to experience the unique thrill of the competition.
2. Gain valuable event experience
Volunteering at an AJPA state or national speed puzzle competition allows you to develop useful skills in event management and coordination. You’ll be part of a team ensuring everything runs efficiently, from timekeeping to greeting participants. This experience can enhance your communication, problem-solving and teamwork abilities – valuable skills in any setting.
3. Support a growing community
The jigsaw puzzle community in Australia is growing, and by volunteering, you’ll play an essential role in helping nurture and support this community. Your contribution helps bring together people of all ages who share a passion for puzzles, while also promoting healthy competition and social connection.
4. Meet like-minded people
As a volunteer, you’ll meet other puzzle lovers and enthusiasts, both competitors and fellow volunteers. It’s a fantastic chance to connect with new people, make friends and even network within a community that values creativity, focus and fun.
5. Give back and make a difference
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, and in this case, your time and effort help make a national event a success. Knowing that you’ve played a role in creating a memorable and well-organized competition can be incredibly rewarding.
How you can help
The AJPA is looking for volunteers to help with various tasks on the day, including setup, registration, timing the competition, helping with logistics, and assisting participants. Your involvement will ensure the event runs smoothly and that both competitors and spectators have a fantastic experience.
If you’re ready to be part of something special, mark your calendar for 7 December and volunteer for the AJPA National Jigsaw Puzzle Championships at MSAC in Albert Park. Join us for a day of fun, excitement, and community spirit!
To sign up or learn more, send us a message via the AJPA website or email our volunteer coordinator.
Seeing the smiles and joy when people complete their puzzle, or even set a new personal best is an amazing feeling, and one of the most fulfilling parts of being a volunteer.
As volunteers, we know moving hundreds of tables and chairs may not be your cup of tea, but there are many other roles available! We’ve got people to help put out the puzzles on the tables, take times, welcome participants, take registrations, help out with puzzle race challenges and coordinate swap tables (and the all important role of putting the strip of masking tape in the middle of the tables so pieces are less likely to get mixed up!).
Although I don’t live in Victoria, I’ve volunteered in QLD and NSW state comps, and will be flying down to compete and volunteer at Nationals in 2024. Hope to see you there!
Written by Denise Lim
From the moment I started placing pieces, a sense of calmness washed over me that I’d never felt before. It was like a switch that turned off all my worries. In that moment, I knew this was the start of something big for my mental health. Being an escape from my anxiety, puzzling soon turned into an addiction.
I’d heard of speed puzzling before but never really looked further into it until I met Katrina Coleman through buying her puzzles. Being humble, she never mentioned that she was a national champion. I discovered her accomplishments through an ABC YouTube video and was very impressed by her passion and skill.
I soon became hooked on watching speed puzzle competitions and was keen to attend an event. When the AJPA were seeking volunteers for the Tasmanian state competition, I reached out. I hadn’t done anything like this before as my anxiety would never allow it. So many intrusive thoughts flooded my brain in the days leading up to the event. But as soon as I got there, I felt a sense of belonging – these were my people. And although the anxiety was high, it was dampened by the atmosphere and the warm welcome I received from the AJPA team and fellow volunteers.
It was a huge success and a day I will never forget. The entire experience was so beneficial for my mental health and gave me a boost in confidence, I highly encourage any puzzle lovers who suffer with anxiety to attend an event like this. You don’t have to compete; you don’t even have to compete to be a volunteer.
Come along and meet all the incredible puzzle people, you won’t regret it. Attending puzzle swaps and starting a travelling puzzle have also helped me connect with new people – something that seemed so daunting and impossible in the past. I have only been puzzling for a few years, but it’s made a dramatic change in my life. I have met many new people and have made some amazing friends. Puzzling is so inclusive to everyone, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
Written by Alice Izzard
I stumbled across an ad for the NSW State Jigsaw State Competition when randomly searching for volunteering opportunities one night. I had never heard of competitive jigsaw competitions before and was curious about it. That was the beginning of my discovery of the competitive puzzling world.
I’m really grateful I came across the ad, as this was the best volunteering experience I have ever had, and I have volunteered for a number of organisations. This event was well organised and really fun. The team leaders D’Arne and Claire were extremely supportive and friendly. They made us all feel appreciated throughout the day and always checked in on us. We also had yummy snacks too!
At the start of the day, I felt a bit shy and unsure of myself, but throughout the day I felt more and more confident thanks to the team leaders. And I gained some new skills in the process. There were different roles available during the day, so there was an opportunity to try something new, whether it was customer service or officiating during the competition.
There was always someone to help me whenever I needed, and my fellow volunteers were also really friendly and supportive of one another.
And of course you get to witness the wonderful competitors puzzling. It was amazing to see how fast the competitors completed their puzzles. Even some of the volunteers joined the competition! So, I encourage all puzzlers and non-puzzlers to volunteer in their state and national competition. I really hope to volunteer again next year.
Written by Emily
