Students at Schoolies

Schoolies is traditionally a time to celebrate hard work and many students may be heading off with friends to various ‘Schoolies’ locations for a well-deserved break.

Whilst Schoolies is all about having fun with friends, it also brings with it responsibility and risks. 

Recently, the Victorian Department of Education put out communication to remind parents and teachers to discuss Schoolies.  Starting a conversation is the first step to prepare for Schoolies.

• Encourage open communication with your teen – stay calm, do not lecture, listen and avoid conflict.
• Have the tough conversations with your teen – communicate your expectations and concerns, provide clear reasons for your decisions but don’t forget to invite and explore their opinions too.
• Ask them why you should not be worried – this will often put the onus back on them to actually think about and communicate what strategies they will put in place to keep themselves safe.
• Negotiate and set boundaries together – negotiating gives you and your teen the chance to work through different scenarios together of how to keep them safe. It also sends the message to your teen that you trust them and their ability to make good choices.
• Ask how they are feeling about Schoolies - let them know that they can come and talk to you about it at any time.

And remember, it’s okay for you to communicate that you do not want your teen to go to Schoolies. If they are under the age of 18, it is also okay for you to not allow them to.