Music festival harm reduction

​​On this page

  1. Keeping people safe at music festivals
  2. Guidelines for music festival event organisers
  3. Health and medical plans
  4. Contact details
  5. Harm reduction messages
  6. Further information

Keeping people safe at music festivals

NSW Health works with music festival organisers and private medical providers to keep people safe at music festivals.

The Music Festivals Act 2019 requires all music festival organisers in NSW to prepare a Health and Medical Plan (HMP). Some music festivals must have the contents of their HMP agreed to by NSW Health.

To find out more about this process, visit NSW Government - Planning a music festival and read the guidance and FAQs provided.

NSW Health also provides:

These resources help organisers plan safer events and reduce the risk of harm.

Guidelines for music festival event organisers: Music festival harm reduction

The NSW Health Guidelines for Music Festival Organisers: Music Festival Harm Reduction help organisers plan and run safer music festivals.

They provide clear advice on:

  • what health and safety risks to expect
  • what strategies work best to reduce harm
  • what health, medical and harm reduction services, staff and resources are needed to keep people safe.

The guidelines are updated regularly to reflect current best practice and experience. Feedback on the guidelines can be provided to MOH-musicfestivals@health.nsw.gov.au.​

Health and medical plans

NSW Health has developed a health and medical plan template to support festival organisers to plan for and manage health and medical risks.

All music festival organisers in NSW must prepare and comply with a health and medical plan. Festival organisers can use this checklist to ensure their plans are consistent with the guidelines.

Music festivals that do require an agreed health and medical plan must submit their draft plan to NSW Health for review at least 60 days before the event. Email it to: moh-musicfestivals@health.nsw.gov.au.

Music festivals that do not require an agreed health and medical plan do not need to submit their document for agreement by NSW Health. However, NSW Health strongly recommends early engagement with all relevant stakeholders and that a copy of the health and medical plan is provided to NSW Ambulance (Ambulance-EventPlanning@health.nsw.gov.au) and your local health district. Contact details for these agencies can be found below.

Contact details

Harm reduction messages

Music festival organisers play an important role in communicating harm reduction messages to patrons. These messages can be shared before, during and after events through social media platforms, websites and promotional materials.

Harm reduction messages should encourage patrons to seek help early if they feel unwell from drug and/or alcohol use and advertise the presence and location of care spaces, harm reduction services and medical services.

Harm reduction messages may include:

  • Seek help if you feel unwell. You won't get into trouble for telling a health care professional what drugs you've taken. Medical services and care spaces are available onsite.
  • You're a mate, not a doctor, so don't be afraid to seek help for someone who is unwell.
  • It's a good idea to stay close to your mates. Agree on a place and time to meet, in case you get separated. Don't rely on your mobile phone – your battery could go flat or the network could be overloaded.
  • Drink enough water to stay hydrated, especially if you're drinking alcohol.
  • Alcohol and other drugs can affect your body's ability to maintain a normal temperature. Wear sun protection, take regular breaks in the shade and have warm clothes ready for when the sun goes down. Ask for help if you start feeling unusually hot or overheated.
  • Festivals can become overwhelming. If you're feeling distressed or anxious, tell a trusted friend how you feel and move away from loud music. Find a calm place to chill out and seek help if you need it.

Music festival organisers, venues, and peer-based harm reduction services can use the Stay OK toolkit, which contains digital creative assets and print-ready media to promote harm reduction messaging to NSW festivalgoers.

For more information about drugs and alcohol, visit YourRoom to get the facts.

​​Further information

For further information on music festival safety for patrons, please visit Your Room.

Patron information on rights and responsibilities at music festivals is available from the NUAA​ and DanceWize NSW.

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Current as at: Wednesday 9 October 2024
Contact page owner: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs