Thread: Perth students head to Bali to celebrate end of school year

PERTH'S school leavers are turning their backs on the traditional haunts of Rottnest Island and the South-West in favour of celebrations in Bali.

Year 12 students are frustrated with the growing costs associated with organised schoolies events and increased "big brother" regulations during the annual rite of passage.

When Linda Psanoudakis heard her son, Nick, was going to pay almost $900 for five nights in Dunsborough, she suggested he check the prices to Bali.

For just $770, he is now looking forward to 10 nights in Bali, with his girlfriend and two other friends.

And mum is going, too.

"They're going to know a lot of people there; a lot of kids from their school (Seton Catholic College in Samson) are going as well," she said.

Leanne MacGillvray, who was in Bali at the end of last year's Schoolies' Week, said she was not impressed by the behaviour of the Australian kids celebrating leavers.

"Kuta was full of schoolies from the east coast (of Australia) who were going nuts, with no adult supervision," she said.

"I saw three kids on a motorbike who were clearly drunk. These kids were walking around the streets, drinking and on the beaches, with no supervision.

"There weren't many kids on the streets during the day, but they were out in force at night."

Mrs Psanoudakis said the situation involving a 14-year-old New South Wales schoolboy being held in custody in Bali for allegedly being caught with a small amount of cannabis, had acted as a timely warning.

"Definitely," she said. "I have cut out news articles and put them in Nick's room.

"It is a reminder to them that getting into trouble in Bali is a lot different to getting into trouble at home."

Perth school leavers prefer Bali over Rottnest for party destination | Perth Now

When Linda Psanoudakis heard her son, Nick, was going to pay almost $900 for five nights in Dunsborough, she suggested he check the prices to Bali


Geat idea Mum. Especially after the 14 year old saga. Now wait also for all the media to film it.

Originally Posted by Celyna

When Linda Psanoudakis heard her son, Nick, was going to pay almost $900 for five nights in Dunsborough, she suggested he check the prices to Bali


Geat idea Mum. Especially after the 14 year old saga. Now wait also for all the media to film it.

Purchasing the drugs arent the problem.

Its the alcohol, I was there at this time last year and the situations they get themselves into are incredible. One girl was face first on the tiles in Paddy's with blood coming out of her nose and her friends were standing around crying not knowing what to do.. they didnt want to put cold water on her because it would mess up her hair.. After helping them get her up I told them they would need to get in the taxi, take her back to the hotel and put her in bed once she was safe they could consider coming back outto which they replied "Cant she just get in a cab by herslef we just want to party"

Another one in Eikon was sitting in the corner of the toilet crying and asking for help, I asked wehat she needed and she proceeded to tell me (with vomit all down her front) about how she was raped 6 days earlier and her boyfriend would get angry..

Even as an Adult in Australia your alcohol consumption is so restricted in licensed premises and you generally have people looking out for you - police, security or friends.

Bali the duty of care goes out the window, you have kids drinking copious amounts of alcohol with no one having a duty of care.

Sorry, I was more implying the naiveté and stupidness of these kids (I was there once too). Being a mother of two girls we watch the news each year as they report on the "schoolies" (school graduates) and what they get up to. The media turn it into a circus each year. The injuries, fights and rape is an ongoing problem. In an attempt to provide safety for the kids the police of WA mount a massive effort to flood the hot spots. They search for drugs, try to provide a presence to deter unruly behavior and provide drug and alcohol free events. However, each year there is the same reports, fight here, rape there or drunken or drug fueled injury there.

With this in mind the issue of kids going to Bali, unsupervised has created quite a debate over the issue and great concern.