The City of Busselton says unsanctioned high school leavers events are a fact of life every year, but this time around they are not just expecting so-called toolies to crash the party but also unvaccinated students.
Next week, about 10,000 leavers are expected to descend on Dunsborough, a coastal community in the south-west of Western Australia, for yearly end of school celebrations.
For the first time attendees will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter sanctioned events.
The move has prompted community concerns about unsanctioned events hosted by students who choose not to get vaccinated.
Mayor Grant Henley said those types of events are not unheard of.
"But WA Police are very well resourced to deal with any issues that come up."
Slow registrations no surprise
So far about 2,700 of the expected 10,000 people have registered for the official Leavers WA celebrations and provide proof of vaccination.
Red Frogs, a not-for-profit volunteer service who help coordinate sanctioned leavers events, is not surprised by slow that slow registration rate.
"They're all getting their heads around the end of exams and packing and buying all their stocks of water," state director Hayden Glass said.
"We are pretty confident they want to party in the zone … so they will definitely register," he said.
Pop-up clinics for last minute vaccine
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Darryl Grant said pop-up clinics will be available at the event but encouraged school leavers to get vaccinated before heading south.
"While you could get the jab down south, I imagine the queues and wait lines are going to be extensive," he said.
With less than a week until leavers descend on the area, Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the city does not yet know where the pop-up vaccination clinics would be located.
The ABC understands two pop-up clinics will be set up for the Leavers WA sanctioned event and will operate from Sunday to Tuesday.
No appointment will be required at the clinics which will operate alongside check-in points.
The Health Department has been contacted for comment.
