‘Rape culture’ hotbed

SCHOOLIES is a hotbed of sexual assaults and a breeding ground for a “rape culture” in Australia, experts say.

They have spoken out about the annual “rite of passage” celebration amid a growing groundswell of anger over sexual violence and harassment of women across the country.

It comes as a Victorian man faced Southport Magistrates Court this week charged over the alleged rape and filming of a girl at Gold Coast Schoolies in 2019.

And Youth Affairs Minister Meaghan Scanlon, herself the victim of a Schoolies sexual assault, vowed to ramp up efforts to combat the scourge at this year’s festival – where music DJs will be instructed to stop concerts and call out any behaviour which crosses the line.

Fury over mistreatment of women – including sexual assault allegations against males ranging from former federal Attorney-General Christian Porter to elite Brisbane private schoolboys – has sparked nationwide protests, a shake-up of Scott Morrison’s Cabinet and a call by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for a national women’s summit.

Experts say Schoolies – with its “dangerous mix” of alcohol, drugs and “hyped up” teens – is a starting point for sexual violence and disrespect towards women.

Kerrin Bradfield, of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, said many Schoolies sexual assaults went unreported but her organisation responded to “multiple incidents” every year.

“With the vulnerable age group, alcohol and other drugs and the party environment, the incidence (of sexual assaults) is quite high,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we do have a rape culture woven right through every aspect of Australian life.”

Ms Bradfield joined former senior Gold Coast police officer turned Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy in calling for better education for young people around sexual consent.

Dr Goldsworthy said Schoolies promoted a “terrible culture” which led to sexual assaults as well as cases of “regretted sex”.

Dr Goldsworthy said many teens had some of their first sexual interactions at Schoolies and needed to be better educated about consent and the risks of it being impaired by alcohol and drugs.

Andy Gourley, of national Schoolies chaplaincy service Red Frogs, said sexual assaults at the event had dropped significantly over the years but an average of around 20 a year were still reported at Schoolies locations around the country.

“I wouldn’t call it widespread but it’s still significant – one sexual assault is one too many,” he said.

“Ninety-five per cent of sexual assaults are alcohol-related. There’s no such thing as safe sex when you’re drunk … it’s a really dangerous and murky zone to be in,” he said.

Mr Gourley said Red Frog “walk homes” – in which volunteers escort vulnerable teens back to their units – had helped reduce assaults at Schoolies while attitudes had also changed.

Ms Scanlon, Queensland’s youngest female MP, acknowledged the festival was a place of “heightened risk” for vulnerable teenage girls.

“There is potential for sexual violence for any woman going somewhere where there is a lot of alcohol, excitement, hormones. Unfortunately, that’s the reality for a lot of young women.”

She said she hoped any schoolie who endured what she experienced was brave enough to report it to police.

“Don’t be afraid to call out that behaviour,” she said.