For decades, Schoolies has been a rite of passage and one of the most anticipated weeks for high school students following the slog of HSC exams.
On Saturday, 20,000 teenagers descended on the Gold Coast to kick off a week of celebrations and load up on all of the party essentials.
Donning the official ‘safer Schoolies’ bucket hats and pink lanyard, many were seen unloading their luggage outside their accommodation in Surfers Paradise before they hit the shops to stock up on ice, alcohol and toilet paper.
Many even brought their own subwoofer boombox stereo systems from home.
As the sun went down the celebrations kicked off with dozens of teens enjoying the view from their high-rise accommodation and the taste of their new-found freedom.
Teens are being told to look out for their friends and to keep safety at the front of their minds as they enter the action-packed event.
Volunteers from the Safer Schoolies initiative and Red Frogs attended check-in and were seen patrolling the most popular areas.
Pop-up tents will be set up each night to provide assistance to Schoolies revellers that may require medical assistance.
School leavers can visit Recharge Zones within the Schoolies Hub and along the Esplanade for water and assistance.
For the first time ever, pill testing has been introduced at Schoolies.
Queensland is one of only three jurisdictions in the nation to have legalised pill testing with its Labor government hopeful the new measure will keep school leavers safe.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said confidential and free pill testing would feature at the end-of-year event at a cost of $80,000.
The Schoolies service was offered after national data showed women aged 18 to 24 were taking illicit drugs at the same rate as young men for the first time since records began.
The two-week event, which will see students from NSW and Victoria arriving next weekend is considered the most popular destination
Although festivities have now also spread to the Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and even overseas to Fiji and Bali.