Schoolies or not, health workers are worried
GOLD COAST health workers say they will need support for the Schoolies period, even if it doesn’t officially proceed.
Workers in Gold Coast Health say they have concerns about managing an influx of graduate revellers tipped to take over the Glitter Strip in November as per usual but this time without back-up support.
The annual event safety response provides medical tents and extra health personnel, but questions remain about what will happen if State Government support is axed.
State Government typically sets aside $1.4 million for its
Schoolies response and the city council chips in $430,000.
A Gold Coast medical worker said they believed it would be a major risk if a mass crowd of high schoolers descended, given a dependency on doctors from elsewhere.
“We fly many in every year just to keep the hospital going, this year it is going to be a challenge,” the medical source said.
The State Health Minister’s office had said they would continue to provide the extra resources, the source said.
“We always provide resources where and when they are needed to ensure people can access the healthcare they need,” they said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is expected to outline her government’s stance on Schoolies 2020 on Friday.
A Palaszczuk spokesperson this week said: “While the Government does not organise Schoolies any more than it organises Christmas, it is very carefully considering its response to the event.”
The Bulletin has repeatedly questioned Ms Palaszczuk and her government about Schoolies 2020 as hotels take bookings, others call for clarity and graduates prepare to come despite pandemic restrictions.
Some hoteliers have backed away from participating due to a lack of clarity from the government.
On Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk was asked: “Premier, Gold Coast apartment owners and booking agencies are getting quite concerned about Schoolies, given that it’s in a few months. Where are we at?”
Ms Palaszczuk said the government was “having some regular meetings about that” and flagged “a definitive response (Friday)”.
“I want to talk to (Mayor) Tom Tate one more time,” she said. “But we’re also working through health advice and (with) police. Tomorrow I’ll give you a definitive update.”
It follows Cr Tate calling for Schoolies to be cancelled when asked about the popular riteof-passage in a virus crisis.
Asked about the meeting, Cr Tate would only say: “My position remains the same, I’m still asking Schoolies to stay home this year because we need everyone to be safe and cautious right now.
“However, the final decision on the Schoolies safety response is one for the Premier,” he said.
Cr Tate has previously suggested graduates should take to Zoom or other online video chat services to mark it.
If the government does move to block this year’s party in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, it is unclear how it could stop teen revellers converging on the Gold Coast to celebrate regardless.