Parents who try to be ‘cool’ with kids do everyone a grave disservice.
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):
‘Police are appealing for information after a party turned ugly at Carrum Downs last Thursday night.
At about 10.30pm on 20 January a group of people turned up unannounced to a Lyrebird Drive residence and were then asked to leave the party.
After the confrontation, a 21 year old Carrum Downs man was stabbed several times in the head and face with a broken bottle.
Another 19 year old man from Skye was also stabbed in the head with the bottle, and another 20 year old Mount Eliza man was stabbed in the back with what is believed to be a screwdriver.
All three men were transported to the Frankston Hospital with serious injuries.
Police are on the hunt for three men who are believed to be aged between 17 and 21 from the Carrum Downs area.’
Sounds to me like there was no crowd control at this event.
Here’s another story that put three police members in hospital. It’s just one of dozens of stories I’m collating in a national database.
I’ll bet you London to a brick these guests were all drunk because the parents didn’t want to control the alcohol. Why? Because they wanted to be ‘cool’ with the kids.
And while they were being cool, their guests were getting the crap beaten out of them. Then, when the party got too wild, they called emergency services to clean up their mess.
When are parents going to listen?!
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 thinking, ‘Not another teenage party!’
Almost all these stories come down to planning and duty of care. If parents provide these, parties will be pleasant for guests and safe for the community and emergency services. And the only way to make sure of this is to bring in safe party permits.
Parents who plan a party for their kids are responsible for all guests. This means they must control the alcohol. They must also diligently and continually observe all guests to ensure they’re partying safely. They must also provide a safe party environment that keeps unwanted guests out.
Not doing this could mean civil action by another parent. I know of two cases in Melbourne where parents are suing another parent for lack of duty of care. Their kids both ended up with permanent brain damage.
In the last five months, I’ve organised 60 teen parties with parents all over Melbourne. This includes:
- Risk and pre-party safety assessment of venues (including homes).
- Risk assessment and safety plan for alcohol.
- Post-party transport arrangements.
Not one of these parties had an alcohol-fuelled problem.
About a third had gatecrashers who tried to get in, but were thwarted by my security team and diligent parents who cared about keeping the kids safe.
There is a solution to all this mindless violence.
If only parents would GROW UP!
Naomi Oakley, Managing Director, U-NOME Security Communication Specialists.
