Blogs

Fri, 27/11/2009 - 11:52

Schoolies Week

Every year thousands of Year 12 students from around Australia (as well as a few from New Zealand and other countries) make plans for a holiday to celebrate their end of school years and the completion of their Leaving Certificate. It is called `Schoolies Week`: a three week graduation festival celebrated by Year 12 school leavers from all around Australia. It takes place after the Year 12 Leaving Certificate between mid-November and mid-December. The event is predominantly held on Queensland's Gold Coast; however alternative destinations include Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach, Tropical North QLD and Magnetic Island. Traditionally each of the 3 Schoolies weeks in Queensland attracts a different state of year 12's so that each one parties with their own fellow students.

Great world parties

Like everywhere around the world, students party during summer or mid semester breaks. In America students traditionally go to Florida, in Europe party goers travel to Spain (Ibiza) or the Greek islands. Night clubs stage fantastic dance events or concerts and most students have a great time. Of course when so many young people are gathered in one place, you will need to be careful not to end up in the middle of a drunken fight or car accident.

Toolies

Popular Schoolies (or leavers) venues are often attended by people well past school age, labelled by the media as toolies. The word is derived from the notation "too old for Schoolies" and also the slang expression "tool". Toolies are associated with the targeting of drunk teenagers for sex, and are also frequently involved in any disturbances that take place during the celebrations. Because of this, toolies are a major topic of media scrutiny during Schoolies week. Toolies also refers to early school leavers who are in apprenticeship training but join in the Schoolies celebrations.

Another group that have some presence at Schoolies week celebrations are those known as foolies or sometimes pre-Schoolies. These are adolescents who haven't yet left school but still partake in activities during Schoolies week. Many organised events during Schoolies week, such as concerts, only admit those who are school leavers. On the Gold Coast in particular, Schoolies are often given wristbands as a form of identification.

Some criticism

Schoolies has become a true rite of passage criticised in the media due to binge drinking, sex and promiscuity. Police attention is regularly required where the collective behaviour of Schoolies at some locations gets out of hand. In recent years, violence (notably sexual violence) has become an increased threat to the safety of attendees. Fights have broken out between Schoolies from one area and another and predictable media coverage of antics, accidents, and attacks has followed. 2007 saw one of the most troublesome Gold Coast Schoolies celebrations in history, where in one night, police arrested 30 Schoolies and the number of arrests for the entire week doubled compared to the previous year. It prompted talks of banning Schoolies week, but is it fair to let a handful of violent party goers spoil a great week for thousands of students?