The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Today, the Albanese Government is launching a new online safety hub as part of our efforts to help protect young Australians travelling overseas.
The Partying Safely Hub, on the Smartraveller website, hosts resources to support parents and educators to have conversations about how to party safely while away from home, and what to do if something goes wrong.
The Partying Safely Hub provides practical information for parents, universities and schools on key topics involving alcohol safety, methanol poisoning, drink spiking, drug safety and travel insurance.
Resources are available to download and include posters, factsheets and videos, developed with partners and subject matter experts including Red Frogs, CHOICE and Médecins sans Frontières.
Since March 2025, the Albanese Government has:
- provided targeted advice and alerts on alcohol-related risks to travellers through text messages and messaging at Australia's international airports;
- partnered with industry, non-government organisations and youth media outlets to deliver messaging to young Australians through a range of channels;
- worked closely with universities to promote messaging to students in the lead up to key travelling periods; and
- dedicated communications on Smartraveller social media channels to raise methanol poisoning awareness.
Partying safely awareness activities will continue to increase ahead of schoolies in November.
The Partying Safely Hub is available at: Partying safely hub | Smartraveller
Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong:
“The tragic deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles as a result of methanol poisoning in Laos are a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers young people face when travelling abroad.
“We want young Australians to explore the world with confidence, but above all we want them to have the knowledge and resources to come home safely.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite:
“Travelling overseas is a rite of passage for many young Australians.
“This Hub is part of the Albanese Government’s work to help protect young Australians travelling overseas.”