Finding Rosies at Schoolies

This is a story from Brooke*, who came to the Rosies tent within the Safer Schoolies Response on the Gold Coast and returned the next year as a volunteer.

My first Schoolies was insane! Music everywhere, heaps of people, beach parties non-stop. I was buzzing at first, but by the second night, my feet ached, and I needed a break. Somewhere to sit and breathe. That’s when I spotted Rosies Recharge Zone.

Walking into the Rosies tent was like stepping out of the Schoolies chaos and into a calm bubble. There was seating, cold water, and volunteers who genuinely cared. They asked how I was doing and what they could do to support me. Honestly, it felt like they’d been expecting me. Not in a weird way, just in the nicest way ever. I sat down, downed the water, and immediately felt a bit more myself. It was such a simple thing, but it made all the difference.

While I was there, I asked a volunteer about Rosies. I couldn’t believe it when I learned they’d been coming to Schoolies since the 1980s, making sure young people had a safe space to rest and recharge and it’s not just about Schoolies Week. Every day of the year, Rosies volunteers drive around Queensland in vans, meeting people who are doing it tough. They give out cuppas and snacks, welcome a friendly chat, or sometimes just sit and listen. The idea that these people go out all year, showing up for anyone who needs it, completely blew me away.

Sitting there, I realised it wasn’t just a tent or a water station. Rosies was a safe space, a friendly face, and a little bit of home in the middle of all the madness. It made my first Schoolies way more enjoyable than I expected. I felt rested, supported, and cared for, and I hadn’t even realised how much I needed that.

Fast forward to the next year: I’d turned 18 and decided it was my turn to give back. I signed up to volunteer with Rosies, and I’ve been hooked ever since! Now I have the pleasure of offering cuppas, snacks and friendly chats those who need it, and being that friendly face, I remember so clearly.

Rosies was there for me at Schoolies, and now I’m so excited to be there for the next generation of school leavers too. It’s honestly the best feeling to know you can make someone’s night a little brighter, just by showing up.

If you’re at Schoolies this year, don’t forget to pop by Rosies Recharge Zone, grab some water, and say hi. We’d love to meet you!

* Name changed for privacy