Community & Belonging · Indicator 4
Harm reduction & welfare
What this indicator asks
How widespread are harm reduction and welfare programmes at Sydney’s venues and events? Are they well resourced?
64.5/ 100 · Sydney
An expert said community organisations carry much of the welfare work, such as the queer health organisation ACON. Red Frogs volunteers run water stations and chill-out zones at festivals.
An expert said that underground and DIY organisers look after their guests closely, because they have no public liability insurance and see themselves as representatives of a wider community.
After a trial at 12 festivals, the NSW Government made drug checking permanent at up to 15 music festivals a year, starting October 2026. An expert called it a win that has been fought for for years.
A total of 64% of survey respondents say welfare staff would be helpful during incidents. But an expert said nobody is really leading on welfare, so it can be an afterthought, and regular venues have margins too thin to pay for welfare staff.