The Department of Environment and Science has announced its Safer Schoolies campaign has wrapped up for 2022 with volunteers and first responders working more than 53,000 combined hours over the week.
Together they helped 26,000 school leavers take part in the annual celebrations.
Minister for Youth Affairs, Meaghan Scanlon said many months of planning went into this year’s safety response to ensure legitimate Schoolies had a good time, and a safe experience.
“With official celebrations back on at Airlie Beach, we saw 11,000 more school leavers collect a wristband this year — and reports from our Agencies and volunteers say this year’s cohort has been among the most well-behaved,” Ms Scanlon said.
She said this year’s response featured the Schoolies Hub on Surfers Paradise Beach; wristbands to identify legitimate school leavers; an integrated health and wellbeing space and Chill Out and recharge zones.
“Not only did Schoolies engage in the Hub and Chill Out zones, we saw many Schoolies supporting local businesses in Surfers Paradise, and they have overall been very polite and respectful towards locals, authorities, volunteers and each other,” Ms Scanlon said.
“They watched out for their mates and didn’t hesitate to ask the volunteers for help when needed. Clearly, our education is cutting through.”
Ms Scanlon said compared to when the tradition began in 1980, when a bunch of students ran down the beach, dove into the water while wearing their school uniforms and then visited the Broadbeach Hotel, Safer Schoolies had evolved into a well-managed response.
