Home > Youth > Schoolies > Planning and partnerships

Planning and partnerships – the key to safety

Rigorous planning and coordination of community safety responses are key to minimising risk.

Involvement of all stakeholders is essential when planning a community safety response that provides a safe environment for school leavers. Stakeholders may include:

state and local government agencies
businesses
entertainment providers
community groups and volunteers
non-government organisations
students, young people, parents and carers.

Overview of key roles and responsibilities of community stakeholders when planning community safety responses
Agency group or stakeholder	Role and responsibility
Department of Communities	First contact point with the Queensland Government in each region regarding Schoolies. Contact for general information about Schoolies. Contact for educational material about community safety responses for parents and schoolies. Reference point for other agencies and stakeholder contacts. Contact point for Regional Managers Coordination Networks via regional offices.
Regional Managers Coordination Network	Consists of the regional manager of every Queensland Government department located in each region. Reference to the network makes all departments aware of proposals and provides an opportunity for their involvement.
Queensland Police Service	Queensland Police Service has lead responsibility for law and order and the enforcement of law as it applies to underage drinking. Also play the key role in public safety and traffic management Relevant safety campaigns, such as One Punch Can Kill and Safe Partying
Department of Justice and Attorney General	Office of Fair Trading Consumer protection, including fair charges and conditions for accommodation.
Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing	Liquor Licencing Section Administers fines for alcohol-related offences, including underage drinking and supply Regulates licensed premises to ensure responsible and legal supply of alcohol
Department of Emergency Services	Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Emergency treatment Patient transport Medical advice
Department of Emergency Services	Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) Fire prevention and management Road accident and trauma Other rescues
Department of Emergency Services	State Emergency Services (SES) Rescues during emergencies and disasters On site to provide general assistance
Department of Education, Training and the Arts	Education Queensland Distributing information to Year 12 students planning to attend Schoolies Relevant safety campaigns, such as Act Smart Be Safe
Queensland Health	Public health information on the supply of alcohol to underage people, harmful alcohol use, tobacco, other drugs, safe sex, sunburn and skin cancer Hospital services if required
Queensland Transport	Transport services Traffic offences Transport safety Driver’s licenses
Local governments	Approval for specific community safety responses and venues Food sales Water supplies Noise management Waste management Traffic management
Businesses	Exercise fairness and avoid opportunism and profiteering from a young, vulnerable group of clients
Entertainment providers	Provide positive, engaging alternatives for young people that encourage safety and responsible behaviour Concentrate young people in particular areas to enable easier management by organisers, police, emergency services and volunteers which facilitates a safe and responsible environment Manage crowd, noise and other disruptions
Non-government community organisations and volunteers	Volunteers are fundamental to community partnerships and community safety responses such as Schoolies It is essential all volunteers comply with the relevant codes for volunteers when working with young people, such as obtaining a blue card (working with children check). Potential volunteers need to apply for a blue card as early as possible as the application process can take some time to complete. The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian advises that applications for blue cards should be made 12 weeks in advance. The Department of Communities encourages organisations to apply before September. It is also important that organisations funded to provide community safety responses are aware of the code of conduct for volunteers and employees involved with schoolies and their legislative responsibility to have child protection risk management strategies and child protection policies in place. These need to be reviewed regularly. Agencies and employers should be aware of and have undertaken training in relation to this responsibility. The Commission conducts training in child protection risk management strategies and child protection policies and supervision.
Parents and carers	Assist their teenagers to understand their rights and responsibilities during Schoolies. Communicate their own values and discuss tough issues, including sexuality, violence, alcohol and drug use. Discourage their teenagers from attending Gold Coast Schoolies Encourage alternative forms of celebrating the completion of school
Schoolies	Being well informed prior to Schoolies, including having an understanding of: accommodation arrangements and responsibilities as tenants drinking alcohol responsibly underage drinking and penalties personal safety and watching out for your friends ID such as 18+ card road safety and tips to travel safely sexual health sexual assault – ideas to increase safety emergency medical help and important contact numbers A range of resources containing information on these topics is provided by a number of Queensland Government agencies.

In addition to the above, you could consider involving your local, State and Federal members of parliament, young people, the principal of the local high school, presidents of local service clubs such as Lions, Rotary, Zonta and chairs of local volunteer groups.

Last updated: 27 August 2008.