Schoolies Info for Parents 3.33

Safer Schoolies Initiative
The Queensland Government’s Safer Schoolies Initiative is a whole of government response to the schoolies holiday season across Queensland.

Government works in partnership with local council and community groups to provide diversionary activities, support services and safety initiatives to help young people stay safe during end-of-school celebrations and minimise potential impacts of these gatherings on local communities. There are two key Schoolies locations across Queensland - Airlie Beach and the Gold Coast.


Gold Coast Schoolies Community Safety Response
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services coordinates the Gold Coast Schoolies Community Safety Response (the Response) in partnership with the Council of the City of Gold Coast to manage the influx of approximately 22,000 young people who book their end-of-year holidays on the Gold Coast.

The department funds safety initiatives such as wristbanding to easily identify schoolies, recruitment and training of volunteers to provide advice and support, and activities in alcohol and drug-free environments for legitimate schoolies only.

Key elements of the response include:
• Highly visible police presence
• Additional emergency services, local law and liquor licensing officers
• Coordinated volunteer and community support program
• Diversionary activities in a designated alcohol- and drug-free area.

The official Gold Coast Schoolies Community Safety Response will take place between Saturday 18 November and Friday 24 November 2017.

Volunteer groups (including Rosies - Friends on the Street, DrugARM Australasia, Red Frogs Australia , Christian Youth Council, Crime Stoppers Queensland Limited, and Volunteers in Policing) will provide schoolies with the following: practical support and advice, health and safety information, referrals to other support services if needed, and assistance with directions around the Surfers Paradise precinct as required.

The key message for school leavers is to ‘Be Safe and Watch Your Mates’ during Schoolies and if anything happens, don’t risk it – always call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

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