Cabinet checks off State's preparedness for Schoolies Week
State Cabinet this morning checked off all-of-government planning to ensure that this year's Schoolies Week celebrations are remembered for all the right reasons, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
"A memorable time of celebration and achievement for our Year 12 school leavers is assured - provided common sense and a respect for oneself and others is undertaken," said Mr Beattie.
More than 40,000 Year 12s will walk out of the school gates for the last time at the end of this week.
"Cabinet this morning was briefed on the pro-active measures the government has undertaken," he said.
"In the lead up to this year's Schoolies, Queensland Health provided $63,000 to Community Solutions to produce a range of resources for graduating senior students to help them prepare to have a safe and happy time at Schoolies Week. These resources include:
- 40,000 booklets on health, safety and legal issues pertinent to schoolies week;
- A schoolies Week Checklist advertisement in Exit Lines the Board of Senior Secondary School Studies publication.
- A website with sections for local coordinators to provide up to date information about events and health and safety issues;
- Local information resources promoting important contact numbers and calendar of events; and
- A Schoolies Video and a set of 3 lesson plans for use in schools prior to schoolies week.
In addition $41, 000 has also been provided to six local 'Chill out' areas at the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Townsville, Whitsunday, Yeppoon and Stradbroke Island.
"These are areas which provide immediate safe spaces in known risk areas across the state."
In addition the Department of the Premier and Cabinet has provided a donation of $27,500 donation to Gold Coast City Council to support the coordination of Schoolies Week. These funds contribute to the delivery of safe area entertainment over the 17 day period of Schoolies Week.
Police along with Community groups have been working in partnership to provide school leavers with personal Safety Strategies advice in an effort to reduce the likelihood of victimization and criminal behaviours.
These lectures cover the issues of drug and alcohol awareness, Liquor Act offences, Street Offences and first-aid information.
School Based Police Officers have also conducted lectures covering issues relating to road safety, 'Hoon' legislation and drink driving related offences. Mr Beattie said that an increase in the number of police staff, incorporating specialist crowd management trained staff will be provided this year.
Throughout Schoolies Week, pro-active policing will be conducted by officers from the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast Tactical Crime Squads. These squads are being tasked for high-visibility patrols targeting criminal offences within the areas of Schoolies activity.
Several music functions will be held through the week at various venues. These functions are advertised as drug and alcohol free and are arranged to provide a safe environment to allow the school leavers to celebrate the week.
This supports the efforts already undertaken by Education Queensland.
All schools have access to a range of resources to assist young people in making safer decisions about their celebratory behaviour, including Guardian Angels, Rethinking Drinking, Thrills Without Spills and Who's in Charge Here, a drug education resource.
The Department of Families has announced $25,000 for Gold Coast City Council to support development of a Volunteer Resource Development and Training program.
This provides for activities such as recruitment and training of volunteers, the production of a training manual, the employment of a casual support officer for the period of recruitment and training of volunteers, visible support teams walking the streets nightly and a nightly advice and referral point for young people.
Since 1999, Department of Families has provided funds to support the Festival - 1999 - $25,000; 2000 - $20,000; 2001 - $25,000.
We also provide $141,000 each year to the Gold Coast Youth Service (GCYS) to deliver a Management of Public Intoxication Service, with a focus on young people under 25 years.
The Office of Fair Trading is providing information on renting accommodation and smart shopping for Schoolies.
It is working in with Queensland Health's Schoolies Week website www.schooliesweek.com.au.
The Office of Fair Trading has distributed the PSST! (Post School Survival Tips!) publication to every school in Queensland. This publication includes information and advice on a range of consumer issues directly relevant to Schoolies Week as well as advice and information on buying a car, getting your own place, travelling overseas, mobile phones and bogus job opportunities.
The Office also has a number of fact sheets on these issues that are available by contacting the Office of Fair Trading (including regional offices) or by logging on to the website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au Schoolies are encouraged to ring Fair Trading on 1300 658 030 if they require further advice or assistance on fair trading issues.
There is however, one major downside for under-age school leavers during Schoolies. If they are tempted to try and sneak into licensed premises, their enjoyment of the Schoolies experience will be short-lived and expensive. On-the-spot fines of $225 will apply to offenders detected over the Schoolies period.
In conjunction with police, investigators from the Liquor Licensing Division will be out in force during this time. Arrangements are in place with licensees to closely scrutinise and report any suspected under-aged persons attempting to enter licensed premises.
The Liquor Licensing Division will be targeting specific offences under the Liquor Act 1992, in particular the attempted use of fraudulently obtained or false drivers licences and other forms of fake identification to gain entry to a licensed venue. Other areas of attention will include overcrowding at licensed venues, patron safety issues and adults supplying liquor to minors.
A co-ordinated approach involving security staff from licensed venues, liquor licensing investigators and Police will again be undertaken this year to detect under-aged offenders.
The Liquor Licensing Division has also contributed relevant information to Queensland Health's Schoolies Week website concerning the only acceptable forms of age identification as well as the severe penalties applying to underage persons found unlawfully on licensed premises.
