23rd of November to 30th of November, 2019
Everyone who is attending school leaver celebrations in Lorne, Torquay, Rye and Phillip Island are expected to register.
By registering, you are assisting the Good Times Great Breaks Officials to best support you during your celebrations and you’ll be informed of all the great free services available to you during the week.
The Victorian State Government, Surf Coast, Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast Shire Council page for all things School Leavers, or “Schoolies”, in Victoria.
The Good Times Great Breaks approach aims to enhance the safety of school leavers participating in end-of-school celebrations and the communities where they gather. Thousands of young people attend end of school celebrations in Victoria each year, the managing Shire Councils in partnership with YSAS, DanceWize and Red Frogs are committed to making the experience as fun and safe as possible.
If you’re heading to a Victorian destination for your school leaver celebrations, be sure to register here.
We’re here to help
All Good Times Great Breaks officials will be wearing ID with our GTGB logo clearly shown
Youth Workers are trained professionals who specialise in youth alcohol and other drug issues and youth mental health. They are first-aid trained and highly experienced in street-based youth outreach. Youth Workers work in pairs and provide assertive street-based outreach for young people participating in school leavers’ celebrations at Torquay and Lorne each night from the 26th November – 2nd December.
DanceWize is a program of Harm Reduction Victoria (HRV). DanceWize utilities a peer education model to reduce drug and alcohol-related harm. Like YSAS they will provide first aid and specialist support to school leavers at Rye and Phillip Island!
Red Frogs aim to safeguard a generation by providing a relationship based engagement program. Red Frogs identify young peoples’ needs and to facilitate referrals to appropriate services. Red Frogs also provides a number of free services such as bus rides, walk homes, pancake cook ups, water and general pastoral care.
Call the 24/7 Red Frogs hotline on 1300 557 123.
The picturesque resort town of Lorne is one of Victoria’s most popular beach tourist destinations where you can simply choose to chill out with a BBQ by the beach and take in the amazing surroundings.
Lorne offers trendy cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, ancient rainforests, waterfalls and other amazing natural wonders along with a whole host of activities.
Celebrating on the Surf Coast is all about relaxing and having a great break from the stresses of VCE! Why not learn to surf at Australia’s home of surfing? There are lots of great adventure activities waiting for you.
Torquay is the surfing capital of Australia and home to a rich beach culture with friendly locals, white sand beaches and famous surf locations such as Jan Juc & Bells Beach. Offering plenty of cafes, restaurants and relaxing spots to hang out with your friends, there will never be a dull moment. Take a day trip to Great Ocean Road or visit the Torquay pub for some live entertainment.
Surf at Bells Beach like a Pro, snorkel around Point Danger marine sanctuary or shop for a bargain at Surf Shop Plaza where you will find plenty of clothing outlets stocking major surf brands like Rip Curl and Quiksilver.
Looking for a no-fuss destination? Rye may just be the perfect spot. This small coastal town is a breath of fresh air and is situated on the popular Mornington Peninsula offering a unique experience for you and your closest friends!
Step away from the crowd and rediscover the sun-kissed days and rolling surf that Rye is famous for. Your after-dark endeavours will see you hopping between local bars and restaurants.
Rye offers plenty of scenic walking tracks, dunes, pockets of sandy beaches and other amazing natural wonders being a part of a declared UNESCO biosphere reserve with marine national parks on their doorstep.
Phillip Island is surrounded by white sandy beaches, sparkling blue waters and unspoiled national park. Phillip Island offers a unique Oceanside experience where you can chill out and spend your week in coastal bliss.
Jump on a bike and hit the pavement to explore the island at your own pace. Visit the islands seaside villages that offer an array of shopping, alfresco dining and cafes along with protected bays where you can bake in the sun, sand and surf!
There is a heap of people and services that can help during and after GTGB. Here are a few:
The School Leaver Safety response, Good Times Great Breaks (GTGB) includes several youth services, police and security guards and aims at providing a safer ‘schoolies’ experience for young people attending locations in Victoria. GTGB is delivered during what is known as “Week 2”, which is from 24 November until 1 December 2018. Young people attending outside these times will not have access to the GTGB safety response.We encourage young people to only attended ‘schoolies’ celebrations during the GTGB period.
The managing councils do not promote participation in ‘Schoolies parties’ but seek to enhance the safety and responsible behaviour of school-leavers at Good Times Great Breaks locations and to minimise disruption to local communities. As part of the Good Times Great Breaks Initiative, a range of safety and support services will be provided at Lorne, Torquay, Rye and Phillip Island.
Police, emergency services, security, Red Frog volunteers and other Good Times Great Breaks officials will maintain a visible presence, providing young people with medical assistance, general support and advice.
Safety initiatives include wristbands or photo ID for identification, street patrols, walk-home services, ‘schoolies-only’ areas, free water and medical assistance. The Red Frogs Australia Chaplaincy Network also provides support to ‘schoolies’ in some accommodation venues.
Good Times Great Breaks officials play a vital role in helping to keep school leavers safe. All volunteers have a Working With Children Check, agree to a code of conduct and receive training.
Here are some tips and advice for preparing your children for ‘Schoolies’.
Providing alcohol to underage children where there is no responsible supervision is not only dangerous, it is illegal. Penalties are high. If you get caught providing alcohol to your underage child for consumption in an unsupervised environment and you will face penalties of up to $10,000.
Good Times Great breaks is a partnership between the State Government of Victoria and the three Shire Councils involved in the safer school leaver initiative Good Times Great Breaks.
Surf Coast Shire Council
1 Merrijig Drive
Torquay, VIC
03 5261 0806
www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
1 Nepean Plaza
Rosebud, VIC
03 5986 3585
www.mornpen.vic.gov.au
Bass Coast Shire Council
76 McBride Ave,
Wonthaggi VIC
1300 226 278
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au
