Assignment FAQs
Doing a school assignment on Red Frogs New Zealand? This will give you a great start.
What do the Red Frogs actually do?
Red Frogs is a support program for young people from the ages of 13 – 30.
Red Frogs recognise that the culture of young people is dominated by alcohol, and the excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances can lead to dangerous and life-altering behaviours. Red Frogs therefore makes it their mission to: provide a positive peer presence in alcohol-fuelled environments where young people gather; educate young people on safe partying behaviours; and promote and provide alcohol-free and or/diversionary activities that engage young people in these environments.
How did Red Frogs start?
It all started in 1997 when Red Frogs Australia founder Andy Gourley (then youth pastor at Citipointe Church) hit Schoolies Week on the Gold Coast with his skateboarding mates and realised the need for a designated sober person at the massive drinking parties. Read the full story on our History page.
Who Are the Red Frog Volunteers?
A bunch of legends. Our volunteers are the heroes of Red Frogs New Zealand there are more than 350 volunteers providing support throughout the country, They devote their time to others and unite together to provide solutions, support and safety for this generation of young people. Collectively our volunteers accumulate 10,400+ hours serving 744,000 Kiwis each year.
How many Red Frog volunteers are there?
350 volunteers are recruited annually across our programs and they are the heartbeat of the Red Frogs network.
How many Red Frogs volunteers are at location during New Years
The number of volunteers per location varies considerably depending on the location. On average, we have 60 volunteers at Queenstown and Wanaka in the south and then 20 in Kaiteriteri and Nelson.
What are the Red Frogs' priority areas of work?
The Red Frogs programs include:
- New Years
- Universities
- Education in high schools
- Boardriders skate program
- Sports events and team chaplaincy
- Festivals and band chaplaincy
You can find out more about our programs below.
How many New Years locations are there?
Currently Red Frogs is in four location during New Years, with our activations last between one and three nights
Which location do you see the most medical attention needed as a result of alcohol or drug abuse?
Wanaka sees the largest number of young people for the end of year party, so by nature we expect that this location would have the most incidents. However, we have seen a gradual decrease in incidents and a positive change of culture in the last several years.
Why do you think school students go away to celebrate New Years?
It's perceived as a rite of passage for young people, and a way to celebrate summer and the start of the new year. For many, they just want to have a fun time with friends. The Red Frogs are there to ensure the fun doesn't get out of hand and be a sober friend when needed.
Have you have seen a decrease in alcohol consumption and a rise in the use of illicit drugs?
On the whole, alcohol is still the most popular choice for young people, with a minority of people using drugs.
Do you think it’s necessary for there to be more stringent drug laws to minimise the use of drugs?
We do agree that the enforcement of drug laws must be stringent, however we think this works hand in hand with the education of young people to the harm and risks associated with drug-use. We see that many graduate students go to New Years events and university without the intention of using drugs but when they get offered it they often get swept up in the moment and 'experience'. We call this 'experimental drug use', and it can end in a lot of regret and shame. Red Frogs speak to high school students about the risks that they are going to face at in party environments, and how they can best prepare themselves to avoid making any decisions they will regret.
Together with education in the area of drug use and enforcement of drug laws by police, we can continue to expect an improvement in the party culture at New Years.
Are there Red Frogs overseas?
You betcha. Red Frogs international locations include Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the UK, Canada and France. You can also find Red Frogs in Fiji and Bali during Schoolies celebrations.
How do I get Red Frogs at my high school?
We would love to hear from you if you’d like Red Frogs to visit your school. Send us an email us at education@redfrogs.com.au and we’ll see whether we can arrange someone coming to speak to your student cohort, or even a pancake cook-up!
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