What really goes on behind the scenes at Schoolies
By Kahla Preston|
Schoolies: itกฏs the one word that can strike fear into an Australian parentกฏs heart.
Each year, as thousands of Year 12 graduates head off for a week of unsupervised fun, the news reports detailing drug use, drinking and violence inevitably trickle out.
This week itกฏs been reported more than 47 Schoolies have been arrested at Surferกฏs Paradise, topping last yearกฏs head count.?
Most of the arrests have been for public nuisance and drug use; paramedics say theyกฏve also treated hundreds of injuries from alcohol-fuelled accidents and brawls.
Reading this, any parent would be tempted to put their child on house arrest.
Image: AAP
Andy Gourley understands the concern. He's been on the front lines for the past 20 years as?the founder and CEO of Red Frogs - an organisation dedicated to supporting and keeping Schoolies safe through various initiatives and resources.
The father of three admits heกฏs witnessed some confronting scenes in two decades - particularly on the balconies of the high-rise apartments popular among the graduates.
กฐThereกฏs been scary stuff where weกฏve seen kids trying to ledge walk over the side of buildings,กฑ he tells 9Honey.?
กฐActually, one kid fell asleep on a ledge on the side of a building one year.กฑ
Several incidents like these have made headlines at Schoolies over the years; tragically, a 17-year-old Brisbane girl died after falling from a 26th floor balcony in 2012.
While Schoolies is never going to be a placid occasion - sorry, parents - Andy says heกฏs seen some positive changes taking place.
กฐBack in the day it was pretty feral, to be quite honest,กฑ he admits.
กฐThereกฏd be a lot of fights and punch-ons and heaps of really violent sexual assaults, a whole range of things.กฑ
There have been less incidents of this nature as time has gone on, Andy says, and the school leaversกฏ attitudes have evolved.
กฐIกฏve got to give them great marks this year. Theyกฏre looking after each other really well and theyกฏre really worried about their mates,กฑ he explains.
กฐWeกฏre also finding theyกฏre not drinking as much - thereกฏs a lot more [people] not drinking.
"Theyกฏre going on a little health kick, almost, swapping beers for Boost Juice.กฑ
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Although the approach to alcohol is shifting, Andy agrees drug use appears to be on the rise.
One paramedic tells the Courier-Mail MDMA has been the most common drug at Schoolies this year.
กฐI think, in youth culture in general, drugs are a bigger issue through high school and parties, and obviously in Schoolies week as well,กฑ Andy says.?
กฐCompared to alcohol itกฏs still low, but it is increasing for us - weกฏre probably seeing an increase in that and a decrease in alcohol related [incidents].
กฐDrugs is a massive worryกญ itกฏs some of the really scary stuff you see.กฑ
The Red Frogs initiatives, carried out by hundreds of volunteers during Schoolies, focus on ensuring the teenagers are out of harmกฏs way.
For instance, school leavers can book a กฎwalk homeกฏ though the Red Frogs hotline, app or tent to ensure theyกฏre returned to their hotels and apartments safely.
The volunteers also carry out กฎrandom acts of pancakesกฏ and ensure, where possible, the Schoolies are looking after themselves.
กฐOne of the big issues is the pre-drinking sessions in the rooms,กฑ Andy says.
กฐWe get in there to put a bit of food in them, so itกฏs not just drinking on an empty stomach which can be really dangerous.กฑ
Andy understands why parents feel uneasy about sending their kids off to Schoolies; his own son is currently spending Schoolies on a cruise in the Whitsundays.
กฐItกฏs actually an alcohol-free event, which he chose, which Iกฏm pretty stoked about,กฑ he says.
He advises parents, where possible, to look into the Schoolies options available and talk to their kids about possible alternatives, and to provide them with plenty of good food and slabs of water when the time comes.
