Schoolies Week - why, why, why?

[roland]

News tonight talking about the Government's suggesting regarding not going to Bali had school leavers saying they would have nothing to do ....

What's wrong with going out and getting a job???

Do we need a Schoolies Week - seems like a drunken debauched waste of time.

From www.schoolies.org.au

Schoolies Problems:

Alcohol - Widely considered a week long alcohol binge, schoolies week is most criticized for excessive drinking and problems that flow from this. In 1995, 75% of male schoolies and 53% of female schoolies report being drink most or every day or night of Schoolies Week (see below: Research, and Diversionary Programs).

More recently laws have been changed at a Federal level increasing the tax on pre-mixed spirits, and at a state level in Queensland to focus on parents supplying alcohol to their children in an irresponsible way.

Fines issued by Police related to alcohol laws have raised considerable funds for state governments, particularly at Gold Coast Schoolies year over year the policing of these offences has increased and the revenue has increased proportionally.

Drugs - The availability of drugs at Schoolies Week is widespread. In 1995 25% of male schoolies and 14% of females reported being stoned most or every day or night of Schoolies Week (see below: Research, and Diversionary Programs). Marijuana and Ecstasy are the most commonly used drugs at Schoolies Week.

At Gold Coast Schoolies 2007, drugs were cheaper and more widely accessible without consequence from Police than alcohol.

Violence - Schoolies has been long known for its violence, media reporting has focused on schoolies violence and in the mid nineties there were incidents where news crews handed out money for schoolies to initiate violence so they could film schoolies violence for the evening news.

The most violent schoolies was in 2002 at the Gold Coast. Police were under-resourced as several violent clashes occurred involving groups of people every night that week. In subsequent years with Police numbers significantly increased and innovative approaches developed violence has continued, but Police have rapidly engaged and resolved violence.

All schoolies destinations are more heavily policed since and at a number of destinations have engaged private security guards to assist.

The most significant statistic regarding violence at schoolies over the past few decades has placed the blame more so in the hands of toolies than schoolies themselves.

Sexual Health - Unprotected sex is common at Schoolies as it is in many cases opportunistic casual sex. Sex in public places such as on Surfers Paradise beach is common place. Sale of the morning after pill are significantly higher during Schoolies Week.

Sexual Assault - Gold Coast Schoolies has the worst track record with sexual assault as it is famously the largest Schoolies destination, and attracts older predators.

When the Queensland state government took over the management of Schoolies at the Gold Coast in 2003 from the Gold Coast City Council, after the most violent Schoolies Week in 2002: their primary concern was public perceptions of Schoolies Week.

Social Worker Dominic Mapstone of the National Schoolies Website made public via the media that a number of rapes had occurred at Schoolies despite government efforts to deny these facts.

In recent years, Queensland Police have been much more open about sexual assaults at Schoolies Week.

Drink Spiking - Over the past several years, drink spiking has been a significant problem at Gold Coast Schoolies Week.

Property Damage - Damage to hotel rooms has occurred, as well as vandalism to other private and public property.

Community Impact - The significant number of schoolies at tourist destinations in some cases 'taking over the town' has caused other potential tourists to avoid Australian destinations during Schoolies Week dates.

Local tourist focused businesses catering to traditional tourists have complained of Schoolies only spending their tourist dollars at limited outlets.

However the history of Schoolies reveals that Schoolies Week was a non-peak tourist slot that was otherwise a down time for tourism.

Gold Coast locals generally avoid the tourist hub in peak times, Schoolies has been criticized as local community members completely avoid the Schoolies precinct wherever possible.

A familiar tone has rung at many destinations Schoolies dominate in, questioning the benefit and community impact of Schoolies Week.

Other community impact issues surrounding Schoolies Week include noise, litter, vandalism and damage to hotel and other property.

Cults and Evangelists - Evangelist groups are drawn to the large assembly of young 'sinners' and they regularly harass schoolies.

Suicide and other deaths - There has been approximately one schoolies related death each year over the past decade. In some cases balcony falls.

 

[prawn_86]

What's wrong with going out and getting a job???

Do we need a Schoolies Week - seems like a drunken debauched waste of time.

Twas one of the best, drunken debauched wasted weeks of my life. Wouldnt swap it for anything

Im sure a week not looking isnt going to affect thier job prospects. Completing high school is a big milestone, especially for those who did a lot of study during their final year. Its a major event in most peoples lives and has a right to be celebrated imo...

 

[Prospector]

It has now become a rite of passage. Thank god my son finished year 12 last year. In my day we had to go back to school after exams to practise for Speech night and Carol's night. Wouldn't want to go back to those days though! It never even occurred to use we could just not go and nothing would happen!

 

[agro]

Twas one of the best, drunken debauched wasted weeks of my life. Wouldnt swap it for anything

Im sure a week not looking isnt going to affect thier job prospects. Completing high school is a big milestone, especially for those who did a lot of study during their final year. Its a major event in most peoples lives and has a right to be celebrated imo...

true, but celebration does not mean going out and getting wasted

i know for sure that many students see getting 'drunk' as a socially desirable trait

no wonder girls today are being left vulnerable

one thing which is in its favour though is that it is heavily policed, but i could bet my bottom dollar there are likely to be fights


did they have schoolies back in the 50s and 60s??

 

[fordxbt]

relate back to the baby boomers, real well done

 

[Prospector]

no wonder girls today are being left vulnerable

Um, the girls are as bad as the guys.....

did they have schoolies back in the 50s and 60s??

I think schoolies emerged in the mid 90's.....certainly not the 50s and 60s

 

[M34N]

Well, no doubt the drinking culture that exists in this country has a lot to do with the whole schoolies thing. Personally I don't see a problem with it, it's only one week. So long as it's all responsible and no-one gets hurt, what's the problem?

No-one is forcing anyone into doing anything, it's a choice people make. I drank on my schoolies back in 2001, but never got to the point where the people I was with got into fights. It's always the minority that ruin it for those who are just out to have a good time and celebrate their achievements.

 

[disarray]

relate back to the baby boomers, real well done

monkey see, monkey do

 

[Smurf1976]

true, but celebration does not mean going out and getting wasted

i know for sure that many students see getting 'drunk' as a socially desirable trait

no wonder girls today are being left vulnerable

For a great many Australians celebrating anything does indeed mean getting wasted. Sad maybe, but true.

If everyone does it then, wrong or right, it's fair to say it's socially acceptable. Society's views on what is acceptable change radically. Remember when mobile phones were a real no-no socially? If you had one then either you really were a doctor on-call, in which case it was acceptable, or you were a complete ****** for owning such a contraption. It was within the lifetime of just about everyone on this forum and most would remember the not so polite term used to describe mobiles and their owners at the time. That was still around 10 years ago.

As for alcohol, it's anyone's guess as to whether or not getting drunk will still be socially acceptable in 10 years time. Maybe it will, maybe it will be viewed harshly and make you an outcast.

As for the girls, well they're the ones causing much of the trouble...

 

[sam76]

Well, no doubt the drinking culture that exists in this country has a lot to do with the whole schoolies thing. Personally I don't see a problem with it, it's only one week. So long as it's all responsible and no-one gets hurt, what's the problem?

No-one is forcing anyone into doing anything, it's a choice people make. I drank on my schoolies back in 2001, but never got to the point where the people I was with got into fights. It's always the minority that ruin it for those who are just out to have a good time and celebrate their achievements.

However it the ****head minority that grows and grows each year.

It used to be a couple now it seems it's more.

IMHO and no facts to back it up.

 

[Glen48]

Wonder how many young blokes have a one night/day/avo stand and then get a letter in the Mail 9+ mths later say you now owe Sindy ( don't know her last name) child support we will take 18% of your pay for the next 18 years?
This will stop you wanting to find a job , getting into a permanent relationship and could cost you your life.
have a nice day.

 

[imajica]

they shouldnt tell people to avoid bali, just the bogan areas like Kuta which are horrible vile places full of touts and peasants and people on package jet star holidays - seminyak and ubud are beautiful areas

 

[Calliope]

Queensland Health midwife;

Every September we see teenage mums giving birth to babies conceived during Schoolies. They go out and have their week of fun away from home and then nine months later their lives change for ever

Obviously these girls are not very bright. I would be helpful if they could remember the names of their sexual partners. These boys (or their parents)should share the cost of raising their kids with the taxpayer.

 

[numbercruncher]

To help stimulate the economy maybe the Government should supply the booze and snacks ?

 

[white_goodman]

geez u oldies, dont be jealous!!

ill be going to bali with 35 mates, 10 of which just finished school over xmas... yes we will get drunk but not like losers, that just makes for a **** night

 

[numbercruncher]

geez u oldies, dont be jealous!!

ill be going to bali with 35 mates, 10 of which just finished school over xmas... yes we will get drunk but not like losers, that just makes for a **** night

Go get a Job you freeloadin' hippy !! and borrow hundreds of thousands to support the Realestate ponzi scheme ...




Hope you enjoy Bali, had a blast when I went as a young fella

 

[jackson8]

i live in victor harbor sa
we have all the schoolies down here this weekend and for the local residents it is a nightmare
they come down here for a couple of days trash the place then just get up and leave with no responsibilty at all
i have seen rows of cars with windows smashed , graffiti everywhere and the amount of rubbish they leave behind is obscene

the organisers of these events in my own opinion show no respect for the locals and under the guise of " its an organised event " show no accountability

the only people to benefit are the local grog shops and fast food services

overnight has been pissing down with rain so hopefully they will all pack their bags and go home !!!!!!!

 

[numbercruncher]

On the Gold Coast we have coppers to throw them in the slammer for such behaviour ... Victor harbour doesnt increase the police numbers over schoolies ?

 

[prawn_86]

Victor Harbour was fantastic when we were there. Stayed at a mates 5 bedrom "shack".

Thanks to all the residents for putting up with us

 

[jackson8]

On the Gold Coast we have coppers to throw them in the slammer for such behaviour ... Victor harbour doesnt increase the police numbers over schoolies ?

last two years they have brought quite a few more coppers down here for the event
this year especially extra booze buses and even a few sniffer dogs

excuse my whingeing probably just jealous that i am not 18 anymore