music festivals

Police dog on a lead sniffing a brown suitcase next to a bench

Drug detection dogs often get it wrong, and it’s a policing practice that needs to stop

27 Oct 2023

New research shows that not only is the use of drug detection dogs ineffective, it may in fact increase the risk of drug-related harm.

A large crowd at a summer music festival

Summer festival season is hotting up - it's time to take care

16 Dec 2022

There are concerns about harm reduction strategies this summer as a restless bunch of young adults test the limits of a depleted hospitality industry.

What is the future of music festivals in NSW?

24 Oct 2019

New regulations are increasing the costs for promoters rather than concentrating on what we know works to improve safety.

Why music festivals need a cultural change to combat sexual violence

16 Jul 2019

The Safety, Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Music Festivals report is the first national study to investigate sexual violence at music festivals.

Drug dog policies should catch dealers, not low-level users at public events

18 Feb 2019

It's ineffective to use drug dogs at festivals and in public places because they're much more likely to catch small-time users than suppliers.

‘There’s no reason not to trial pill testing’: UNSW drug policy scholar stands firm on the evidence

14 Feb 2019

Alison Ritter has moved the Drug Policy Modelling Program from Medicine to Arts & Social Sciences to have more impact on drug policy.

New research shines light on sexual violence at Australian music festivals

24 Oct 2018

Many women do not feel safe at music festivals, citing the particular combination of big crowds and alcohol and drug intake making them particularly wary.

How music festivals can change the tune on sexual violence

10 Jan 2018

Sexual harassment and assault are common experiences in general. Bianca Fileborn and Phillip Wadds suggest there is no reason to assume this is any different at music festivals.

Hep C down, chlamydia up

09 Sep 2009

The spread of hepatitis C has halved over the past decade, while chlamydia continues to rise, according to research released by UNSW's National HIV Research Centres.