• When drinking

    It's important to set clear rules and expectations around alcohol early on.

  • Around drugs

    As a parent/guardian, drug use is often one of the biggest concerns when it comes to allowing your teen to celebrate Schoolies.

  • With sex

    When it comes to sex, don't assume that your teen is across it all.

  • Out and about

    Information for when you're child is out at Schoolies.

  • With social media and privacy

    Leading up to Schoolies, make time to share some tips on how your teen can keep themselves safe whilst using social media.

  • Accommodation

    You may think that the safest place for your teen to hang out during Schoolies is in their accommodation but often, it can be the place where risk taking behaviour is at its highest.

  • During schoolies

    Your teen may have zero expectations of staying in contact with you whilst their away at Schoolies but we encourage parents / guardians to stay in touch with their teens during their time away.

Sex

Now for some, this can sometimes be one of the trickier or more awkward conversations to start up with your teen but nevertheless, it’s just as important to open the lines of communication about sex as it is drugs and alcohol leading up to Schoolies.

When it comes to sex, don’t assume that your teen is across it all. Discussing safe sex, consent, boundaries and respect are great ways for your teen to think about their morals and values, where they draw the line and strategies they can take to stay safe if they do chose to have sex at Schoolies.

Top ten discussion points for the teen who chooses to engage in sexual activity at Schoolies:

  1. Drugs and alcohol can affect the ability to make good decisions. Protect yourself from having sex that you might regret or were pressured into because you weren’t thinking straight.
  2. Always use condoms – they offer the best protection against sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy. Let your teen know that they can always ask one of our Safer Schoolies Volunteers (Gold Coast) for a condom if ever in need.
  3. It’s up to your teen to decide if they want to have sex - if it doesn’t feel right, they can always say no (and at any time)
  4. Sexual consent is NOT silent - it is when both people actively and verbally say YES. Only yes means yes.
  5. Consent must be ongoing and continuous – either party are allowed to change their mind at any stage of a sexual encounter
  6. Sexual consent is not transferable - to a different sexual activity, different day or different person.
  7. Consent can’t be given if someone is drunk, under the influence of drugs, asleep, unconscious or semi-conscious
  8. Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual, physical, verbal or visual behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable, frightened or forces them to have sexual contact against their will. It includes harassment, ‘flashing’, rape, sharing naked photos (without consent) and unwanted groping.
  9. Encourage your teen to have a voice. If they see one of their mates, acting inappropriately or being disrespectful, call it out.
  10. In the event of a sexual assault at Schoolies, your teen should call Triple Zero (000) and ask for the Ambulance Service, or talk to one of our Safer Schoolies volunteers (Gold Coast) and they will arrange support and emergency care.