Schoolies drug team

Peter Farago
DRUG and alcohol treatment workers will support affected teenagers under a harm minimisation strategy for Schoolies Week on the Surf Coast.
Youth Substance Abuse Services (YSAS) workers will be on the ground at Torquay and Lorne to provide information, support and referral to young people who need help with problems due to excessive alcohol and drug consumption.
But Surf Coast Community and Ratepayers Group secretary Lyn Smith said residents wanted a stronger police presence to deal quickly with schoolies when celebrations got out of control.
“One of the major things discussed at our meeting this week was how many extra police we’re going to get,” Mrs Smith said.
Property had been damaged when past schoolies celebrations went out of hand, she said.
“I think they do a fair amount of stupid damage, they whip out post boxes, just silly things,” Mrs Smith said.
“Generally it’s not anything serious, just really dopey things.”
Mrs Smith said residents were concerned that when they called Torquay Police Station they were diverted to Geelong.
“During Schoolies when there’s nobody there it’s very annoying to have to wait for somebody to come from Geelong.
“We don’t have, in our view, the number of police to operate effectively.
“It’s something I have to write to the minister about.”
YSAS spokesperson Rose Salvo said the youth workers’ presence at Schoolies was intended to reduce the risks of excessive alcohol and drug use.
YSAS workers have attended Surf Coast Schoolies celebrations for four years.
They are part of a wider Surf Coast Shire strategy to support high school leavers during their celebrations, including chaplains.
YSAS staff will work in Torquay from 10pm to 2am and 2pm to 4pm from November 17 to December 1 and at Lorne from November 24 to December 9.
The workers will wear T shirts and jackets or black hoodies with YSAS, Surf Coast Shire and Schoolies Down South logos for identification.
“Our main objective is to make sure young people are kept safe during this event,” Ms Salvo said.
“The youth workers aim to establish a presence among the young people.
“During Schoolies we work closely with a number of people including hospital staff, accommodation providers, local businesses, Red Frog volunteers and Surf Coast Shire staff.”
YSAS is the state’s largest youthspecific drug and alcohol treatment service, providing an integrated suite of youth specific outreach, case management, treatment, support and rehabilitation and training programs across 13 sites in Victoria.
In the past, the service had assisted 1500 young people on average in any given week, Ms Salvo said.
Assistance had included management of excessive alcohol consumption, talking to young people about keeping themselves safe, first aid and transport to hospital when necessary, referral pathways and support for assault or “drama”, she said.