It’s been almost 10 years since I was a Schoolie – here’s how it’s changed
The Covid generation that perfected self-care is approaching Australia’s wildest week differently. Read how Gen Z is rewriting the millennial Schoolies playbook.
It’s been almost 10 years since I joined the annual rite of passage at my Schoolies in 2016.
If I were to describe it in one word it would be: feral.
At 26 years old, I’m on the cusp of being considered a millennial – and back at Schoolies right now, I’d definitely be considered a ‘Toolie’.
But things have definitely changed.
Back in 2016, around 25,000 schoolies descended on the Gold Coast – more than double this year’s 12,000 graduates. But smaller crowds don’t mean less energy.
The party’s still here, but it’s evolved.
This year’s graduates seem to have struck a balance between partying hard while prioritising wellness, consent culture and safety.
The numbers tell part of the story.
Pre-2019 most Schoolies were underage, but more than half are now 18 – attending clubs and private schoolies parties, without needing a fake ID of course.
The entry lines during the first weekend reportedly stretched down the block, with 30-minute wait times at peak hours.
Bree Maloney from Artesian Hospitality – which operates Cali Beach Club, Surfers Pavilion, and Bedroom Nightclub said numbers were up on last year.
“The vibe is unreal. It’s wild, but in a good way,” she said.
“Everyone’s buzzing and the Class of 2025 is on another level.”
On Sunday night more than 1500 graduates passed through Bedroom nightclub, while 2000 attended the official launch at Cali Beach.
Clubs were hitting capacity by 10pm as the pre-drink crowds and beach partygoers converged on Surfers Paradise.
But it’s what’s happening before and after the parties that marks the real change.
Red Frogs Queensland state manager Jack Wilson, who has volunteered for 13 years, said they now have volunteers working around the clock – with day shifts ramped up to meet demand for active Schoolies.
“Especially in the last 10 years, we’ve seen a real shift at Schoolies from them hyping each other up, heaps and heaps of energy, getting up to a lot of mischief to more just wanting to hang out with each other, wanting to celebrate well,” he said.
And the proof is in the pancakes.
This week, Red Frogs has fielded over 3000 hotline calls – most requesting breakfast deliveries rather than emergency assistance.
“This year’s school leavers are super energetic, but they’re also really budget and health conscious,” Wilson said.
For the first time, organisers offered structured wellness activities like run clubs and yoga sessions – though only a handful of people showed up for the 6am start.
Grace Richards from Schoolies.com said Gen Z saw wellness and partying as an “and” relationship, not “either-or”.
“You millennials see it as you either drink or you’re healthy, but Gen Z sees it as you do both,” she said.
“You can go out one night and then you can do a yoga session or something relaxing the next.”
Sunshine Coast graduates Charlee Crisp, 17, and Holly Parfitt, 18, have found the sweet spot.
Ms Crisp says she came to Schoolies to experience the Gold Coast, meet new people, and “get as drunk as I get”.
“I knew that it was going to be really nice (on the Gold Coast),” she said.
“And I knew the parties were going to be great here too.”
Despite partying with a DJ in their Mantra on View room until after 2am, they were up at 7.30am for breakfast at Rhapsody Beachside before hitting Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.
“I’ve been chugging Hydralyte,” Ms Crisp said.
While Toolies have always been around, this year it’s been ramped up once again with ‘Bonnie Blue Bang Bus’ and sex workers Annie Knight and British national Lily Phillips who say they will film with fellow adult creators in a “sex education” segment aimed at anyone 18 and above at Schoolies.
The girls weren’t fans, calling it a publicity stunt, and noted male friends “have a laugh” about the Bang Bus rather than taking it seriously.
“It’s really smart the way they’re marketing – though, because people were running after the bus and they’re like chucking out shirts to people and stuff like that, but we all know she’s (Bonnie Blue) not there,” Ms Crisp said.
“I don’t agree with what she’s doing because I think it’s definitely a bit weird, because a lot of the people here are underage.”
But Ms Crisp said she was pleasantly surprised by the respectful and safe atmosphere.
“I thought people were going to be so rude, and like I was going to get jumped,” she said. “But everyone’s rowdy but not in a disrespectful way – everyone’s just trying to have a good time.
“If a guy approaches you, he still asks, like do you want to go talk or whatever? And it’s like, I feel like that’s just so nice.”
Alongside the drinking, health workers expected a sharp rise in sexual activity and
associated risks this week.
There’s also now a lot of education around STDs, safe sex, consent, binge drinking, drugs and mental health.
“You don’t feel embarrassed about it or anything because it’s nothing to be ashamed about – it’s normal,” Ms Crisp said.
But they said pill testing should have remained as an option after the state government axed its funding.
“I feel there’s just some people we know that probably would’ve be helpful for them because you don’t know what you’re actually consuming.”
Of course, not everyone has been behaving.
On the first night, one hotel issued warnings to 18 different rooms for sneaking in extra guests.
Queensland Ambulance Service assessed 26 patients during night four, with five requiring hospital transport.
Meanwhile, Police arrested an 18-year-old allegedly found with 17 ecstasy pills over the weekend.
Originally published as It’s been almost 10 years since I was a Schoolie – here’s how it’s changed
