Womens Day article.pdf
Media Release
TEACHING TEENS HOW TO “PARTY SAFELY”
The Managing Director of a private security firm says that many teenage parties across Melbourne are not properly protected with adequate crowd control, leaving teenagers at risk of having to be the ones to deal with gatecrashers and exposing them to violent situations that they are ill equipped to deal with.
U-Nome Managing Director, Naomi Oakley, says that parents need to realise that a party for their teenager might have 80 invited guests could soon turn into a nightmare with groups of uninvited youths turning up and becoming aggressive due to alcohol or drug consumption.
Naomi says that parents need to be tough with their teenagers and lay down some rules that includes hiring professionals in crowd control and having a say as to the party venue and capping alcohol or making the party non BYO.
“Major problems can result if parents aren’t involved in the planning stages. We offer to do a free safety assessment of the party venue and before we take on a booking we have a 20 point checklist that parents must complete and we notify the local Police Station so the party is registered in case there is problem.
“Our approach to security is subtle, female and we take a proactive, preventative approach to avoid situations arising. The advantage of having a highly female presence is that communication and negotiation skills are the first point of call rather than resorting to a brute force bouncer mentality,” she said.
Naomi also says that before they let their teenagers head off to a party, parents need to make sure they find out who is having the party, how many parents are present and what level of crowd control there is before they let them go.
“It might not make you very popular with your teenager, but you need to be calling the parents of the child having the party and asking some tough questions or you are letting your child go into a situation where might not be protected.
“U-Nome Security specialises in underage and young adult parties I have physically worked at about 500 parties over the last 18 months. We want to ensure safer parties within Victoria which also avoids wasting the time of the emergency services that are needed at more important situations,” she said.
Naomi also says that schools need to take responsibility in educating their students as to the dangers or either holding a party, or what can happen to them if they are part of a gang who gatecrashers a party.
To this end she has developed a national educational package called “Party Safely – Who’s looking after your party?” that she presents at secondary schools. When she goes through the package with students, often the kids are the ones who are shocked by what they learn.
Having spent 12 years in the Victoria Police Force, a further five years in the private security industry, Naomi is talking from experience when she speaks to students and shows them a DVD of a real party that turned ugly. She also gets students to do a role play scenario which shows them how dangerous a party can become.
”All schools need to assist in the education of children in relation to this issue and be proactive in helping the kids understand the seriousness of what can happen to them and their friends,” she said.
She is also asked to talk directly to parents at community groups, venues and sporting clubs to be able to pass on safety tips for planning teenage parties; one of which is to research the crowd control company that is going to look after their event and make sure they have the right type of experience.
“Young adult underage parties are the most volatile. Our staff are often ex-service members, people that have been exposed to stressful situations, but can think on their feet, have exceptional communications skills and it is also critical to have an obvious presence of women.
“I have been trying to encourage safer places to hold young adult parties. Often halls aren't the best venue as they could be located in a high risk area such as near a shopping centre or railway station. When people smoke, usually in large groups outside, they can also attract unwanted guests.
“The end of a party is also again a risky time as teenagers are waiting for transport. Usually if they are not with a partner, then they will fight as they get bored. I am now dealing with a transport company that will safely collect the kids from the party and deliver them home safely. It will cost the guests a bit extra but I know if it was my child I wouldn't mind paying an extra $30 to get my child home,” she said.
U-Nome (pronounced U-No-Me) Security Communications Specialists was launched in 2006 and as a female owned and operated security company it offers a modern personalised approach to security, safety and protection services, provided by a highly skilled, well presented, elite team, made up predominantly of women.
Website: www.u-nomesecurity.com.au