frequently asked questions
What is Encounter Youth’s role during Schoolies Week?
Encounter Youth are the managers of Schoolies Festival designed to support the City of Victor Harbor in responding to the needs of the visiting schoolies and local community.
This management includes year round
- Early Intervention Education in SA High Schools
- Collaborative planning with local and state-wide Working Groups
- Networking and training for the development of a Schoolies Volunteer Team (400+)
- Planning and raising funds & sponsorship for the event Schoolies Festival
How did Encounter Youth gain this role?
Schoolies Week as an informal celebration of finishing secondary school students has been occurring in Victor Harbor, South Australia for several years. Initially, the majority of students ‘migrating’ to Victor Harbor to celebrate their end of year exams occupied holiday houses belonging to family or friends and celebrated within their small circle of friends. In recent times, however, the scale of this annual ‘migration’ has become significantly larger with many thousand young people now making the trip to Victor Harbor in order to celebrate collectively.
The local community was initially caught unaware by the acceleration in popularity of ‘schoolies’ celebrations. No specific provisions were made within the community to address the needs of these students as they sought opportunities to socialise. Increased numbers of ‘schoolies’ resulted in increased levels of fear and anxiety in the local community due to some ‘schoolies’ participating in excessive alcohol consumption, risky driving behaviour, vandalism, property damage and other unruly behaviour. Despite some sections of the community coming together to explore the strategies adopted by other states as part of their schoolies activities, the community appeared to lack people with the time and energy to address these emerging issues.
In 1999, the Encounter Group (now known as Encounter Youth), organised by Frank Ahlin, Senior Staff Worker of a Flinders University Christian University Group and local church leaders, offered assistance to the community. This was accepted by the City of Victor Harbor and a local community Working Group was established to coordinate a managed ‘schoolies’ event for the region. In its first year a team of forty volunteers, together with multiple agencies and services, assisted in addressing the needs of these South Australian students by providing entertainment and organised activities. This coordination was welcomed by the local community.
In 2003, the City of Victor Harbor recognised the outstanding work of Encounter Schoolies, with management of Schoolies Festival being confirmed until 2006 with evaluation for the future. The festival continues to grow and now is considered by schoolies as the ‘highlight’ of their Schoolies Week experience.
What is the desired outcome for Encounter Youth and their partners?
Encounter Youth in proactive collaboration with all partners aim to manage Schoolies Week be providing a festival of safe celebration, community and care for the schoolies of South Australia and the surrounding community.
Overall we desire that the schoolies and the local community have a safe and enjoyable schoolies experience. Encounter Youth and all their partners (listed below) have developed specific strategies to reduce the negative impact to the whole community.
Could the location of Schoolies Week celebrations be moved?
The location of Victor Harbor, its beaches, natural tourist attractions and holiday accommodation possibilities are alluring for young and old alike. The migration of school leavers to Victor Harbor at the end of their schooling is not encouraged by SA Police, the community or Encounter Youth; however it is recognised that the migration cannot be stopped. This location has been chosen by the students, not the community or event managers. Efforts have been taken to manage the event in a manner that reduces the impact on the community and endeavours to increase the safety of students attending.
How is Schoolies Festival classified within South Australia?
It has been declared a “major event” by SA Police, ensuring that sufficient policing, emergency and support services are available.
What are the estimated crowd/festival numbers during the week?
Year Crowd Nos. (Police Estimate)
2000 = 10,000
2001 = 15,000
2002 = 15,000
2003 = 8,000
2004 = 9,000
2005 = 10,000
2006 = 10,000
2007 = 10,000
2008 = 15,000
Year Ticket Nos. (Schoolies Festival)
2001 = 1,500
2002 = 2,400
2003 = 3,200
2004 = 4,000
(NB: combined 5 & 1 day passes)
2005 = 2855 (3 day) & 1547 (1day)
2006 = 2880 (3 day) & 1744 (1day)
2007 = 4300 (3 day) & 1086 (1day)
2008 = 4550 (3 day) & 1547 (1day)
What are the positive impacts of managing Schoolies Week?
Social/Cultural
Safety & Education
The proactive management of Schoolies Week gives the SA community an opportunity to provide a supervised celebration zone free of drugs and alcohol. This assists in altering wide spread cultural perceptions that over-consumption of alcohol needs to coincides with celebrations. The centralised Festival gives Encounter Youth and its partners a platform to educate and encourage young people in positive life choices.
Community education also reduces the fear and apprehension experienced by some groups. Schoolies Week is now no longer unknown and haphazard, it is researched, strategies are in place and positive impacts for both the schoolies and the community have been seen.
Strengthening Community Action
Managing Schoolies Week has brought together a wide range of agencies to work collaboratively in the prevention and effective responses to the various range of health, social and crime issues that arise from any such major event. This not only strengthens community-wide action in response to schoolies week but also to other youth, health, social and crime issues throughout the year.
Specific Cultural Event
The Schoolies Festival has achieved positive results in reducing an extended two weekend celebration into a four day experience. This reduces extended negative impact to the community and ensures that resources are focused on a specific event. This event has many other highlights that cannot all be listed. For further info refer to the event website: www.schooliesfestival.com.au.
Media Exposure
Managing Schoolies Week provides the community with a positive slant to present to the SA public. The success of the management strategies has been applauded not only in South Australia but across Australia. Every state in Australia is grappling with the response required to the national phenomena of Schoolies Week. Positive journalism brings a welcomed boost to the profile of young people, the Southern Fleurieu region and the local & state-wide community action.
Environmental
Encounter Youth and its partners desire to reduce the impact of Schoolies Festival on the environment. Strategies that are initiated by the City of Victor Harbor and Encounter Youth include
- Volunteer “Rubbish” Teams, removing rubbish and recycling cans and bottles from the CBD
- Provision of an increased number of rubbish and recycling bins with daily waste removal
- Partnership building with Keeping Australia Beautiful and Zero Waste to ensure the event is GREEN
- The use of recyclable products (where possible) within Schoolies Festival venues
Economic
What is the estimated economic gain that Schoolies Week brings into Victor Harbor each year?
Schoolies inject over one million dollars into the local economy during the Festival. Many businesses are extremely welcoming of this increased trade with others still hesitant about the short and long term benefits of hosting a Schoolies Week event.
Business that derive an economic benefit during Schoolies Week include
- Fast food outlets
- Petrol stations
- Supermarkets
- Hotels and liquor outlets
- Various accommodation venues
- Media exposure
In 2003, a Stakeholder and Business Survey was conducted in conjunction with the Drug and Alcohol Services Council (a full report can be requested from Encounter Youth). The results were overwhelming positive about the impact of this event. The negative impact is being lessened, with some locals stating that the 2003 event had no negative impact at all. This gives evidence to the successful implementation of all the collaborative strategies.
In the long term, the Southern Fleurieu is an attractive region to young people. If schoolies enjoy a positive Schoolies Week celebration they will return, this is a boost for present and future tourism.
What are the negative impacts of Schoolies Week?
Social/Cultural
The negative impacts of Schoolies Week are declining each year, through improved management, community education and positive choices by the visiting schoolies. However, issues that arise for the local community include
- Noise levels late at night (as students move to their accommodation)
- Increased levels of damage to public and private property
- Increased levels of anti-social behaviour due to the over-consumption of alcohol
- Increased levels of litter, including broken glass
- A sense that they and their property are not respected
- A sense of fear and apprehension amongst the large elderly population
Issues that arise for the visiting schoolies include
- Remaining safe while celebrating in another community without parental supervision and subject to peer pressure from other schoolies
- Making wise decisions regarding safe transport and partying choices
- Non-genuine schoolies (otherwise known as toolies or predators) who are attracted by the prospect of girls, alcohol and drugs. They will look to crash parties and take advantage of heavily intoxicated girls
- Increased alcohol consumption brings an increase in the level of violence
- Potential for violence in the form of rape
- Potential for loss of personal property (or stolen)
These impacts are being reduced through the following strategies
- The education of visiting school leavers prior to the event through
- School Leaver Education Seminars
- Encounter Youth’s Flyers distributed to schools
- Encounter Youth’s informative website (www.schooliesfestival.com.au)
- The education of the community through media avenues, speaking engagements, general advocacy and the local Working Group
- Pre-Sale Tickets for genuine Schoolies, encouraging pre-planning
- The identification of genuine Schoolies (Secondary Student ID required for Schoolie Festival Ticket Price), and an awareness that the issues above are generally caused by older people who are not Schoolies
- Volunteer Teams (role modeling safe behaviours, providing activities and removing rubbish)
- Safe Transport Provision (Bus Services)
- Peer educators and health services on Festival site
- Restricted Accommodation (Four Night Only bookings)
- Increased and targeted policing
These issues are also being relieved by the schoolies themselves, the majority are well behaved, polite and seeking to celebrate safely within the boundaries provided and look out for their friends. This behaviour increases the local community’s respect of them, while minimising their fear.
Over the last five years, these strategies and the others mentioned above have ensured that the local and wider community have realised the need for the management of the event. Many locals appreciate the positive changes that have been seen and the alleviation of harm and distress for the schoolies and themselves.
Who does Encounter Youth work with to manage Schoolies Week?
Schoolies Week could not be achieved without proactive partnerships, below is a current list of groups we work with.
Emergency Services
SA Police Stakeholder & Service Provider
SA Ambulance Service Provider
St. John Ambulance Service Provider
South Coast District Hospital Service Provider
Health Agencies
Drug and Alcohol Services Council Stakeholder, Service Provider & Sponsor
Red Cross Stakeholder & Service Provider
SCI Youth Health Project Service Provider
SHine SA Service Provider
Drug Arm Service Provider
Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service Service Provider
Education Agencies & School Partners
Department of Education and Children Services Stakeholder & Service Provider
Various SA High Schools
Local Agencies
Southern Fleurieu Drug Action Network Service Provider
Southern Fleurieu Health Service Service Provider
City of Victor Harbor Stakeholder & Service Provider
Alexandrina Council Stakeholder & Service Provider
Genesis Bus Services Service Provider
Ocean Street Business Association Service Provider
Southern Fleurieu Businesses Service Provider
Legal Agencies
Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Stakeholder & Service Provider
Children’s and Youth Legal Service Stakeholder & Service Provider
Government Agencies
Motor Accident Commission Sponsor
Corporate/ Business
* refer to our website for up to date list
RAA SA Stakeholder & Service Provider
Church Partners
Various churches across Adelaide and regional areas
Who can sponsor and partner Encounter Youth?
Encounter Youth works with a range of partners committed to the well being of SA Schoolies and High School students. Encounter Youth is a non-profit, Christian group and promotes certain health and lifestyle messages. We maintain specific values in order to successfully respond to community needs such as Schoolies Week. All sponsors need to align with these values & messages, promoting safe celebration, community and care for SA students.
All members of Encounter Youth’s Volunteer Team are Christians, gathered from churches and youth groups across Adelaide. These volunteers need to be Police checked and trained before participating in any events.