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PARTYWISE
This program is aimed at young people, their parents/carers and the community in general. Parties are also recognized as being held in private and
public places. There are issues related to the blend of young and older people with differing attitudes in terms of behaviour and the ability for these
people to blend harmoniously in social circles.
The contemporary issues of alcohol fueled violence in public spaces can be addressed using the same campaign. The information provided will offer ideas
which assist the community in holding safe celebrations in general.
This campaign requires a unified approach between youth workers, SAPOL, the South Australian Government and most importantly the public. It is vital
that the members of the public are people who would ordinarily be involved or effected by the party culture and they must be empowered to effect peer
attitude so that the state of South Australia is a safe place to celebrate.
Program Outline
IDENTIFICATION OF CONCERNS
Areas of concern at youth parties with solutions as identified by working party post the death of Sam Davis:
Guest lists need definition, safe numbers, formal invitations, avoiding SMS and Facebook/Myspace.
Registration of party with local SAPOL - public awareness and consistent approach needed.
Security at door/responsible adult that knows all guests as a minimum.
Use of ID at door - photo ID needed so false names cannot be used.
Wrist bands - once ID checked this will identify who really is a guest.
Guest entry by invitation only - no extras on the night.
Time limit for entry - no late intoxicated guests arriving.
Limit and police amount of alcohol, awareness of legislation governing supply/use by minors.
Adequate adult supervision - need to visualize activity and be alert to changes in behaviour, must be sober.
Early intervention - use of security or calling of police if signs of trouble.
Adequate lighting - must be able to visualize activity.
Boundary for party - no people 'hanging around' outside of house'.
Notice of closure - ensure not all people leaving at one time without transport, wait out back for ride.
Other areas of concern at youth parties with solutions as identified from research:
Combination of drugs and alcohol increasingly impairs judgment.
Young people need education about safer ways to drink alcohol - sips not gulps/shots, alternation of water and alcohol, finishing a drink not
topping it up.
All people react differently when they drink - look after your mates, stay with your mates, be careful of people you don't know.
Drink spiking - never put your drink down and walk away.
Transport - encourage guests to have this pre-arranged, absolute finish time of party.
Food - needs to be available, low salt so people aren't so thirsty.
Access - awareness of points of entry to yard/house.
Neighbours - notify prior to party, they will be alert to problems in the street.
Planning - be sure of action to take in case of violence, intoxication, gate-crashers.
Drinks - BYO can get out of control more easily, bag checks by security, provide free water/soft drink.
IMPLEMENTATION
Stage 1
Meet with stakeholders and produce a set of clear guidelines for safe party strategies. Youth sector workers, SAPOL, Attorney General's Department,
Political representatives, Community leaders and broad base community representatives are essential.
Research into what other states have done will reveal a more comprehensive and consistent approach which is well publicized. It would be sensible to
learn from this approach with the 2006 Queensland Government lead 'Youth Violence Taskforce' and ensuing campaign of 'One Punch Can Kill' being the benchmark
in terms of what can be achieved. Clearly this project focused on violence and our proposal is a broader approach targeting cultural change.
A forum should be held at a central location with the aim of achieving consensus.
Stage 2
A very clear, youth oriented advertising campaign with appropriate use of media in all forms. The campaign needs a clear direction and a catchy slogan
which does not invite people to look away or turn off. It is imperative that South Australian concepts and people are used to educate South Australians.
Stakeholders, in particular youth, need to be involved in the production of the campaign. The message from the Sammy D Foundation's point of view needs
to focus on being prepared, parties being for fun and not tragedy, mateship as a way of preventing incidents and the loss of Sam is a contemporary and well
known incident which the community needs to learn from.
Stage 3
A clear and comprehensive brochure needs to be distributed to all young people and their parents/carers with recommendations for safe parties.
Again multiple community groups such as Lions, SAPOL, Children Youth and Women's Health have produced these brochures and pamphlets. Much of the
information is similar and there is no denying the usefulness. A streamlined approach combined with increased community awareness is essential.
Stage 4
It seems that most SAPOL stations have various strategies in place in terms of being made aware of parties in their jurisdictions. There must be one
method of notifying and a standard response irrespective of where you live in South Australia. A dedicated team of officers need to be available to be on
the streets in order to patrol known party venues. It should be expected that they will knock on the door of known parties and make themselves known.
This in itself will be a deterrent to antisocial behaviour in and around parties.
This project must be budgeted and investigated in terms of dollar value to the community. Research needs to be undertaken into the community cost
of life and property associated with party incidents.
To run concurrently
A Play has been written and will be presented as part of Onkaparinga Council's Youth Week celebrations. The plan is to show this play to classes of
yr 10, 11 and 12 students.
The play consists of 4 scenes and will loosely follow the events of the night that Sam lost his life in terms of key areas in the planning and running of
the party that had they been different could possibly have changed the outcome.
At the end of each scene the students will be invited to make comment and offer
alternates which may have changed that outcome.
A follow up lesson plan will be provided to teachers which will invite students to work in groups to produce web posters which promote the themes of Party Wise.
Posters will be used on the Sammy D Foundation web site to demonstrate youth culture at its best. The foundation will offer a prize at the conclusion of that
part of the campaign.
The play has longevity in terms of the ability to take it to a variety of venues and locations. There are also unlimited possibilities in terms of
adapting the play to focus on contemporary issues as they receive attention in the media.
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