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. This is good news, as parents planning teen events need all the help they can get. They also need to realise some really important points. Key among these is…
In my view, an accident is something you have no control over. If, for instance: you’re driving a car; a large spider drops on you from behind the sun visor and you crash into a tree, that’s an accident. If, on the other hand: you’re rushing and driving at speed; you tailgate the car in…
What’s up, Western Australia?! From what we’ve read these last few months, you really are dying to have fun. Since the start of March, 40 of your teen parties have hit the media for appalling reasons. In case you’ve been lying drunk in a ditch or king-hit by a bottle, here’s a fool’s guide to…
As I continue to lobby government stakeholders in relation to safe teen parties, yet more tragedy unfolds. Another young life wasted. A death that could have been avoided. Alcohol-related trauma is one of the biggest issues at teen events. My submission takes a holistic approach to its resolution. Sadly, it looks like it’s going to…
The mayhem caused by unplanned teen parties is alarming. With no experience of planning a successful teen event, parents are continually putting kids in harm’s way. As Managing Director of U-Nome Security and Founder of Safe Partying Australia, I’ve planned and worked at more than 700 teenage parties. Every weekend, I see first-hand exactly why…
Perth has been having so many major problems with teen parties that I have to say my piece. Since the start of March, I’ve counted more than 30 teen events that have hit the media for all the wrong reasons. The most serious incident was last week when gatecrashers attacked, stabbed and hospitalised four young…
The link between teen parties and sexual assault is real and alarming. Here’s the latest horrific story. How many more times must this happen before we wake up from this nightmare?! I was recently involved in a situation that resulted in a young birthday boy being charged with sexual assault at a party. Prior to…
The things people say! Here are things parents commonly say before a teen party. Along with the reality. ‘We know them; they’re all nice boys.’ Then they drink. ‘The kids will be okay in the pool while they drink.’ Then we have two broken noses and a brawl at the end of the night. ‘Our…
I believe out-of-control teen parties are an epidemic. If police start keeping data on them, I’m certain we’ll see improvement. Alas, no Australian police force does. I’ve sent formal requests to the worst-affected states for police to keep figures for three months: Queensland and Western Australia are reviewing my applications. Victoria ‘Can’t support anonymous data…
Throughout my career (13 years at Victoria Police and 6 years specialising in teen events) I’ve seen my share of dreadful things. These days, I also receive many calls from staff from other security firms. They call because they’re concerned about the types of teen parties to which their employer is sending them. I think…