Support for South-West communities to manage 'leavers' celebrations

25/10/05
Community groups throughout Western Australia will receive a special funding boost of more than $76,000 from the Gallop Government to assist in managing the notorious 'schoolies' celebrations in November.
Premier Geoff Gallop made the announcement today in Busselton as part of Cabinet's visit to the Busselton region.
Dr Gallop said more than 5,000 school leavers were expected to flock to Dunsborough for this year's celebrations, which would place extra pressure on local police, the Busselton shire and community volunteers.
"Dunsborough is a hotspot for school leavers' celebrations, so we are making sure extra resources and activities are organised so communities can manage the large influx of young people," he said.
"The overwhelming majority of leavers celebrate responsibly - but some do not.
"When very large groups of young people get together in places like Dunsborough in that post-exam state of celebration, they can be difficult to manage and their behaviour can have a very damaging effect on community safety."
Dr Gallop congratulated a number of grant recipients for their efforts in organising safe school leaver events and presented cheques totalling $76,144 for activities including a music festival, the establishment of a school leaver party zone at the Dunsborough playing fields, surfing competitions and movie nights.
Grant recipients include: Busselton Shire ($2,600); Dunsborough Progress Association ($41,533); Leavers Chaplaincy ($1,750); Fairbridge Western Australia Incorporated ($5,000); Royal Life Saving Society ($3,245); Kalbarri Local Drug Action Group ($4,500); WA Aids Council ($3,458); Seventh-Day Adventist Church (($5,000); Drug Arm ($5,000); and Bridgetown-Greenbushes Youth Advisory Council ($4,058).
The Premier said the Dunsborough and Busselton communities had put a great deal of thought and planning into avoiding a repetition of past years' riots and anti-social behaviour.
"In particular I would like to congratulate the Dunsborough Leavers' Advisory Committee for planning a number of events and activities to make the town a safer place for local residents and school leavers during the week's festivities," Dr Gallop said.
"The committee has planned several strategies to safely manage the influx of students during the week including establishing a special school leavers' zone, high school safety presentations for leavers, and providing wristbands to identify legitimate leavers from 'toolies' (non-school leavers)."
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said there would be a strong police presence in Dunsborough and they would be issuing 'move on notices' to leavers congregating in Lions Park in Dunsborough.
Mrs Roberts said the Government's five-point plan to handle school leavers would be activated which included a 'safe partying' education program for schools, additional police in key locations and appropriate health and first aid support during leavers' celebrations.
Other tactics included increased road patrols targeting known danger zones during the school leaver period, crackdowns on identity fraud and support for volunteers at school leaver events.
"The new school leaver program will focus on the responsibilities of young people to celebrate safely and in a manner which does not impinge on the rights of others, and which also looks after the wellbeing and safety of their mates," she said.
The $76,000 worth of funding has been provided by the Office of Crime Prevention, Lotterywest and the Office of Children and Youth.
Grant recipient details are as follows:

• The Dunsborough Leavers' Advisory Committee (through the Dunsborough Progress Association) $41,259, consisting of: $33,000 for a Super Safe Zone and diversionary activities; $5,000 for food for volunteers; and $3,259 for a surf competition and movie nights;
• Busselton Shire ($2,860) - safety vests for school leaver event supervisors;
• Leavers Chaplaincy ($1,750) - for the 'Jelly Frogs' pastoral care service and police safety information to school leavers;
• Fairbridge Western Australia Incorporated ($5,000) - for the first annual Youth Music Festival on Friday, November 25, 2005 - an alcohol-free all ages event;
• The Royal Life Saving Society ($3,245) - for the Don't Drink and Drown promotion targeting leavers at Lancelin, Dunsborough and Rottnest Island;
• Kalbarri Local Drug Action Group ($4,500) for the Ambush concert in Kalbarri;
• WA Aids Council ($3,458) - for the KISS program;
• Seventh-Day Adventist Church ($5,000) - towards the cost of diversionary activities at Hamlin Bay Caravan Park;
• Drug Arm ($5,000) - training and supervision of volunteers for their school leavers program; and
• Bridgetown-Greenbushes Youth Advisory Council ($4,058) - for the Don't Leave for Leavers program.