Introduction

UNSW MedSoc, at all its events, places the safety of its members first. At any event which involves alcohol UNSW MedSoc, while encouraging responsible drinking, recognises that the possibility of harm to students increases significantly. In assuming its role of upholding the safety of its students this policy outlines the role and the incorporation of Welfare Officers at MedSoc Events.

Welfare Officers are those individuals delegated with the specific responsibility of caring for students at MedSoc events. Officers should ideally be senior students, year 3 or above, from the MedSoc Executive or Council, having volunteered for the role or accepted the role voluntarily when offered.

There are two types of Welfare Officers:

  • Active officers – will wear fluorescent high visibility jackets so that they can be easily seen and approached during an event. They will handle the majority of events.
  • Silent officers – will have a “sentinel” role during an event; they will remain in casual civilian clothing and will only become active if need be. Silent officers will hand off any issues that arise to active officers as soon as possible.

Role of the Welfare Officer

  1. to provide support to any students who seem inebriated beyond control
  2. to identify students that may pose potential harm or threat to others and to act according to what they deem fit to remove said threat.
  3. to ensure that they are eventually placed into the care of family or friends who can take them home

Specifically in regards to Pub Crawl:

  1. to guide students from one venue to another safely and efficiently
  2. to ensure no student is left behind at a venue
  3. to ensure organised and orderly procession into and out of the venue

Responsibilities of the Welfare Officer

  1. Officers should remain vigilant throughout the duration of the event, looking out for any students that may need assistance
  2. Officers must comply with the MedSoc policy on Alcohol at events until they are off duty, that is they must not drink to the point at which they would no longer legally be allowed to drive (BAC>0.05)
    1. If they are unsure of what their alcohol tolerance is it is advised that Officers abstain from drinking while on duty.
  3. Officers will be on duty from the designated commencement time (different for each event) and until midnight with the exception of MedBall afterparty in which officers will need to be on duty until 2­3am.
  4. Officers must arrive at the (first) venue 15min before designated event commencement
  5. Officers must remain contactable throughout the night whilst on duty i.e. ensure presence of a functional mobile phone
  6. If the officer is unsure of what to do in a situation they should immediately alert senior welfare officer and/or event organiser.

Welfare at MedSoc Events

  1. Welfare officers will be required at any MedSoc event where there is alcohol present
    1. For every 50 attendees there must be at least one welfare officer
  2. Even if alcohol is not present, any event with a large number of attendees (>100?) will require at least one welfare member present
  3. Volunteers for welfare officers should be contacted a minimum of a week before the event to obtain consent for the role.
  4. For events with more than 1 welfare officer, at least one should have medical emergency training