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How to make community festivities safer
A University of the Sunshine Coast academic researching ways to limit crowd problems at public events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations says harm reduction is vital.
USC Counselling Lecturer Neil Mellor will present a seminar at the University on Thursday 27 May based on his PhD research and events studied over a dozen years across three states.
“Celebrations need to be considered in the context of reducing harm, not just law and order,” he said. “For example if you ban drinking alcohol in one area, dangerous drinking may move into unsupervised areas. Ambulance statistics suggest this result.”
The social worker and counsellor has been developing collaborative strategies to address public health and social problems relating to alcohol and drug use, gambling and public celebrations since the 1980s.
“This presentation looks at New Year’s Eve in Victoria but I’ve studied parties at the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and Sydney, and from the Gympie Music Muster to the Bledisloe Cup,” said Mr Mellor, who has taught at USC for two years.
He moved to the Sunshine Coast five years ago in roles with Relationships Australia and Lifeline.
Mr Mellor was commissioned by the Federal Government’s National Crime Prevention Program and in 2002 co-wrote the first national guidelines to prevent or minimise violence and maximise safety and enjoyment at public events.
“My research advocates a situational harm reduction approach to New Year’s Eve,” he said.
“These events play an important function for the whole culture of a community, from the economic benefits for businesses to the fun aspect for the participants, but a lack of management – or, conversely, excessive control – can lead to problems.”
He said the Sunshine Coast had not faced the same level of New Year’s Eve problems as other areas because of its low-key fireworks events spread across several locations.
“However, with budget constraints on local government and a growing population, these events will consolidate and you will get bigger crowds and intensification of issues,” he warned.
Mr Mellor said the involvement of a broad cross-section of the community in planning and management would help prevent problems.
– Julie Gatehouse