Celebrating the End of Year 12 Safely
Preparing for Schoolies
Many students are looking forward to celebrating the end of secondary school with their friends at schoolies celebrations.
In Victoria, schoolies will run from Saturday 28 November to Saturday 12 December. Schoolies celebrations can go beyond these dates across Australia and overseas.
We encourage parents and carers to speak early and openly with their child about their plans for schoolies. This includes any travel plans.
This can help them to think ahead, make safer choices and know what to do if something goes wrong. It may help to talk about alcohol and other drug use, sex and consent, personal safety, and what to do in an emergency.
You may talk with your child about other risks and staying safe while travelling overseas.
Useful resources for families and young people
We encourage you to talk about and share these resources with your child:
- Raising Children Network, for advice on how to help students plan for and stay safe during schoolies
- Better Health Channel, for advice on partying safely at schoolies
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation, for advice on staying safe at schoolies and information on potential alcohol and drug harms when travelling
- Victoria Police, for advice on staying safe at school leaver celebrations. The page includes videos about sexual assault, illegal drugs and road safety
- Red Frogs Australia, a volunteer group that helps young people stay safe and seek help at events like schoolies, with tips and advice for students and families including a 24/7 hotline during schoolies
- Smartraveller, for advice on overseas travel for school leavers and partying safely
- Doctors without Borders, for information on methanol poisoning for travellers
- MethaKnow methanol awareness Instagram page, to help raise awareness about methanol poisoning.