Schoolies Week Safety Risk Tips

Here are some links to websites providing useful information for parents and students about how to have a safe and enjoyable time during the schoolies week celebrations:

Information on drink spiking, water safety risks, health and relationships, accomodation and safe partying from YOUTH CENTRAL.

Here are a few tips from A Guide to safe Schoolies (nine msn) you can drop without being resented forever:

1. Advise them that there is safety in numbers. 2. Suggest that they have a buddy to look out for and vice versa; this could be their best friend, to be accountable for them at all times.
3. Tell them to call home if they need any help or support at all.
4. The police are there to help and not to hesitate so encourage your child to contact them if in danger.
5. Stress that they shouldn’t trust anyone except adults with authority, eg. police and Schoolies volunteers.
6. It is essential to keep an eye on their drink while in bars and clubs as school leavers (in particular girls) are commonly drugged.
7. If you suspect they will have sex, send them away with some condoms.
8. Advise them to keep $20 in their pocket in case they need to catch a cab back to the hotel or somewhere safe.
9. Many will drink excessively, so make sure they know to do so in their hotel so they aren’t vulnerable in the wider world.
10. Lastly, warn them not to swim in the pool or ocean if they have been drinking.

In the past 20 years, organisers and promoters have learnt a lot about the dangers of Schoolies Week and the National Schoolies Week organisation has a website to suggest ways in which school leavers can minimise these risks. It’s well worth checking out and passing on to your teenager. For more information:

National Schoolies Week
Website: www.schoolies.org.au/

Schoolies – Be safe and watch your mates

This website provides information for school leavers and parents about making schoolies as safe as possible.
Promoting safety

The safety of school leavers and local communities is a priority of the Safer Schoolies Initiative.
Planning and partnerships

Read about the agencies and community stakeholders involved in planning effective safety responses for Schoolies, and their roles and responsibilities

NSWFB Schoolies Week fire safety blitz

Minister for Emergency Services Steve Whan today announced the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) is cracking down on fire safety at accommodation and entertainment venues around Bryon Bay and Tamworth ahead of Schoolies Week and the 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Mr Whan said it was the first time the NSWFB had conducted such a comprehensive program of safety inspections in Byron Bay, with preparations for the 2009 Schoolies Week beginning over a year ago