This year my husband and I have been forced to confront our feelings about the dreaded Schoolies Week, having a 17 year old finishing year 12.
We had lots of questions and searched many websites, but found that most of them were money making websites that were charging for Schoolies passes and other information. There are several websites which claim to be official but are not the official Queensland Government website. The most popular of these are:
www.schooliesweek.com/
www.1800schoolies.com.au/
www.schoolies.com/
All of these websites will organise the schoolies pass for official year 12 school leavers. They will also give access to designated parties and gatherings. Importantly these websites also organise accommodation for your school leaver in designated schoolies week hotels.
The thing to remember about these sites is that, although they are convenient and look like a lot of fun, their services are not free. Most of the parties they have on offer require you to buy a pass from their website. Passes start from about $50 depending on which party package you want to attend and go up from there in price.
If your schoolie doesn't care so much about the parties, or wants to wait until they get to the Gold Coast to see which parties they want to attend, then the only real thing they have to do is register as a schoolie with the Qld Government.
www.schoolies.qld.gov.au/ is the Official Queensland Government Schoolies website. This site has a lot of helpful information which cuts through the commercialism and tells parents, caregivers and schoolies exactly what is needed to spend the week on the Gold Coast during schoolies week. Any other websites are just extras to this. Really, all you need is a wristband, a sense of fun and some common sense.
How to get a wristband for freeThe Queensland Government
website tells you what to do to get the wristband.
From the official website:
To get a wristband you will need a valid Year 12 photo ID. If your school ID does not include a photo - you will need to bring your drivers license or passport with you as well, your year level - you will need to ask your school for a letter confirming that you are a Year 12 school leaver in 2014. Make sure you bring both the letter and your school ID with you.
Wristbands can only be collected from the wristband centre located in Neal Shannon Park, above the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre.
The wristband centre will be open:
from 11am to 8pm, Saturday 22 November 2014
from 6pm to 8pm, Sunday 23 to Friday 28 November 2014
Wristbands are not available outside wristband centre operating hours. You do not need to register to get a wristband.
Remember: No valid school ID = No Schoolies wristband = No Schoolies Hub access
Dance party tickets purchased through your accommodation booking or other companies are not related to official Schoolies activities and do not give you access to the Schoolies Hub.
The official wristband gives your schoolie access to the official Schoolies Hub. This is a drug and alcohol free area on Surfers Paradise beach. The Schoolies Hub has free nightly entertainment and is open from 7pm to 12am nightly from Saturday 22 to Friday 28 November 2014. The free entertainment includes DJ's and non-stop music across two stages.
On Tuesday 25 November, a Chill Out Night will be on in the Hub so schoolies can take a break from partying and relax with friends while enjoying two latest release movies.
It would be useful to ask your schoolie to read the official Queensland Government website. It has a lot of information about safety, looking after yourself and your friends, and acting responsibly.
It is important to remember that this should be a fantastic week that your schoolie can remember forever, so work with them to ensure they are comfortable with their own behaviour and act in a safe manner.
Images from www.schoolies.com/2014