U-Nome Security · Blog
Fifteen years of frontline commentary from Naomi Oakley on teenage parties, gatecrashers, alcohol, duty of care and keeping young people safe.
In the dynamic landscape of community services, organisations in Melbourne face a myriad of challenges; from managing public events to supporting vulnerable populations…
Funerals are deeply personal and emotional events, marking the final farewell to a loved one. These gatherings often involve heightened emotions, which can sometimes…
I’m not a wowser who must be told to have a ‘grown-up’ drink. I choose not to drink alcohol because of how it harms me – body and soul.
I’ve spent 26 years in public safety. 13 in Police and 13 in my security firm . I have a Training & Assessment Diploma and have been involved in security training for…
Pam* rang for advice on her son Mark’s* upcoming 18th birthday party.
Security staff. Some people think all we do is stand there, checking names.
Some adults are so fake, I fear what they’re teaching our kids.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, so-called ‘grown-ups’ still let you down.
Some think security staff just crack heads and refuse shoes. Last Saturday’s party showed such dated tactics comprise the least of my holistic service.
Pretend friend At a recent 16 th celebration, the birthday girl invited a fellow school student who’d (allegedly) been bullying her. Though I didn’t know the full story…
Did you know that liquor control laws just changed?
Alcohol has and will always be the main issue at teenage parties which is the reason why I provide a detailed pre party assessment that includes alcohol management. Add…
Councils across Melbourne are “banning” parents and teens from hiring public venues for parties, a security expert says.
You’re not imagining it: kids really are going feral.
You probably realise machetes (see above) and teen parties don’t mix.
I’ve long said that, when it comes to alcohol, 16 year olds are our trickiest group.
PARENTS hosting underage parties need to stop being lazy and provide proper safety controls, a former policewoman has warned. Naomi Oakley, who served with Victoria…
WE’VE all heard the teen party horror stories featuring binge-drinking, sexual misadventure, drug overdoses, trashed homes and neighbours attacked by drunken youths. Who…
The gatecrasher plague continues, forcing some party hosts to try drastic tactics.
The 38-year-old Perth man is in a critical condition in hospital after a shocking attack that has left him with head wounds so severe doctors have placed him in an…
Both had their whole lives ahead of them and it's gone Two teenage boys have died after being struck by a car in the Northern Territory. Two Darwin High School boys have…
A man has been hit in the head with a brick after gate-crashers stormed a party at a rental home in Melbourne last night.
TWO teens were charged and police dog Nas was called into action after a party involving 200 youths in Heathridge spilled over into bottle throwing and drunken fighting…
You know how people ask for advice but don’t take it?
Burning down the house Note: Your next party may cost millions for the guest you failed to protect.
We need to start compiling data in regards to out of control parties and then decide if gatecrashers are the reason why most of these events are shut down.
Gatecrashers are damaging our community and we’re powerless to stop them.
I read this article tonight and I couldn't help think that alcohol may have been partly to blame for this. Was it professional security or private security?
The day of bash and crash bouncers have gone. The new age is here.
Last night’s 16th birthday was a great example of community support.
Tomorrow night A Current Affair, Channel 9, will be airing some party footage. The footage was consensually gained via the parents as well as host of one of the parties…
Another example of our emergency services being wasted during an 'alcohol fuelled' brawl outside a club in Melbourne
It is that time again when the party chaos ramps up as this Sydney family found out on the weekend. A reminder to have a plan and research your security provider…
It is a good thing that Victoria Police have acknowledged the issues in regards to Sexual Harassment. Sadly it is common in many industries. One of my goals within the…
Five youths injured as party goes out of control Springvale
As a parent, it can be a challenge bringing up teenagers. My daughter is now passed that but I have another couple of kids right on the cusp !!
This is where I am confused. Currently we have an increase in parents hosting pre drink parties for their kids attending 'alcohol supplied ' parties
Please follow the link to secure your seat for our first luncheon
A client rang me yesterday extremely distressed. Reluctantly, she helped out, at an 18th birthday party a few weeks ago, and was confronted with a young girl that had…
I am little confused. A few days ago this article was released in regards to the increased violence at liquor stores Read more
In the last few days I have been abused by two different parents:
I can't tell you how important it is to have female staff members. All jobs assigned via Unome Security include a female staff member. Females can turn an aggro man into…
Gatecrashers are not just causing issues within Victoria they are also causing headaches in other states. The attached news link indicates that our gatecrashers smashed…
It's really weird because when I read these news articles in relation to out of control parties it hardly ever mentions the amazing plan that parents have in place and…
That's the issue. Our Prime Minister was last year talking about booze related violence: Read more , then we get a glimpse of him skolling a beer a few days ago.
In the last 3 months we have had 9 bouncers suspended within Brunswick (Jan Read more ), another 4 bouncers allegedly beat a patron they removed from the Phillip Island…
I am very pleased to announce that I have been appointed as the Victorian Director of the Security Providers Association of Australia (SPAAL). I am very excited to be…
You make contact with me to assist with your teenager's party.
It has been a busy weekend as you would have probably guessed from my last post! Turned out Saturday night was flat out with many issues as expected.
Again and again we see our stretched emergency services called to situations that could’ve been prevented. I can see the neighbours cringing inside their properties…
With the amount of media attention focused on out of control parties we can longer say we did not know.
This news article is just the tip of the iceberg. The industry needs more funding to ensure the Police have the resources required to investigate and weed out the crooks!
I am hoping that after the state election in Victoria , the relevant minister will take a long hard look at the security industry. Hopefully, they will inject some funds…
Secondary Supply laws are not a new thing. We have them in Victoria but it still does not prevent teenagers attending parties with their own booze and drinking…
I was informed yesterday that a venue in Beaumaris had some issues with an out of control party last weekend. It turns out the the venue was hired under a different name…
I have been campaigning for many years for Safe Event Laws. Part of my submission was to create an offence for gatecrashing or attempted gatecrashing. At this stage most…
As a mother of a 20 year old and working with young people every weekend, I have come to the conclusion that our teenagers just don't get it !!
If our government were serious about saving money and increasing the resources of our emergency services, wouldn't they target alcohol abuse in our community?
2 teenage parties last night have come to the attention of the media for all the wrong reasons. We are only half way through the weekend and are just coming into the…
If venues ensure that alcohol is served responsibly then situations like this one can be avoided. Instead of hiring the cheapest bar staff and being concerned about how…
Sadly this is what happens when parents or party hosts do not ensure alcohol is managed at the very start. I can guarantee this would have been a party where by the…
Last night a parent makes enquiries about hiring security for their child's16th birthday tomorrow night. You can tell via the concerned tone, voice quivering that the…
If your kids are attending schoolies anywhere please have them read this article. If they are going away in a group ensure the following:
Without a plan, adequate parents and security this party might have had a different ending ! This party was extremely stressful a few weeks ago. Teenagers trying to…
Teenagers Alcohol and Balconies do not go together. This includes schoolies! Parties and celebrations within the home can also be a disaster waiting to happen. Whilst…
EXCESSIVE drinking causes the death of three Victorians a day, 18 assaults, and puts another 81 people in hospital, according to a disturbing report.
Can you see your home in this screenshot? Don’t worry if you can’t; gatecrashers can easily get a bird’s-eye view just for you.
Here’s a spot check of how Australians rang in the New Year.
When panicked parents ring days before a party, wanting my help, I assume they’re willing to follow my expert recommendations.
Most teens are keen to experience adult life and be treated with respect.
Remember absinthe ? The stuff that drove addicts ‘mad’ and was banned for a century?
For two years I’ve been campaigning nationally for legislative change in relation to teen parties.
I have enormous respect for police. I used to be one. But it’s increasingly obvious they just don’t have the resources to cope with exploding demands on their services…
The Party Survival App is a mobile application that assists with planning a safe teenage party providing parents with a step by step guide for party planners that…
Ever keen to improve teen party safety, my team and I have been trying innovative solutions to the gatecrasher plague.
If you thought bad acid went out with Woodstock, think again. Today’s LSD is called ‘Psy acid’ and your teenager may be on it.
Here’s a lovely article that I read with interest, then dismay: Drunk callouts swamp ambos .
A 24-year-old drives his kid brother to a girl’s twelfth birthday.
While Western Australia is in election mode, teen parties continue to cause havoc in the community – creating nights more terrifying than any Halloween .
There are some things you just don’t want to spend money on.
As teen parties get bigger, riskier and more elaborate, host parents are finding there’s extra help at hand: other parents and responsible (i.e. mature, sober) adults.
In my view, an accident is something you have no control over.
As our communities struggle to cope with the rise of teen parties, we now have a popularity contest: 100 guests (or more) is the new way to be cool and hip!
From what we’ve read these last few months, you really are dying to have fun.
Here are things parents commonly say before a teen party.
Around 90% of teen parties go off the rails because BYO alcohol isn’t controlled as it’s brought onsite. The host/parent who manages this common problem is almost there.
Even when I warned him his party would spiral out of control, a Wheelers Hill kid ignored my advice and held a party last weekend.
We hear a lot about ‘senseless violence’.
* This story is true. Only the name and photo are changed. Pray I don’t have to do likewise for you.
Last weekend I assigned ten of my staff to a youth event. It was a skate festival, followed by live acts – including a heavy metal band.
There’s a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way costs MUCH more. Girl Talk A young girl rang and asked if I could provide crowd control for an after-formal party for…
I can’t say enough about the duty of care of parents who host parties. Here’s yet another report of a party turned to crap (courtesy of Police News ):
On Saturday night I had a security team looking after an 18th birthday near Berwick (in Melbourne’s outer east).
Saturday night’s party showed why crowd control is a delicate and volatile yet necessary affair.
Last night my team and I were scheduled to look after a party in a wealthy suburb.
Long Way Home Recently I was contacted by a VCE (Year 12) teenager who was planning a celebration for after her formal (prom night).
The party we covered last night was hard work. First we had to remove four invited guests who’d assaulted someone inside. These guys had been drinking before entering…
Earlier articles from Naomi's blog, newest first.
Whether you're organising a private party, managing a workplace, seeking specialist security assistance or looking for practical safety training, start with a conversation.
