Street Chaplains help keep party nights safe

Weekend party-goers have been looked after by a set of eyes on the streets of Albany.

The Albany Street Chaplains is a team of 21 volunteers that dedicate their Friday and Saturday nights between 10.30pm to 3.30am to ensuring patrons get home safely after a night out.

After extensive complimentary first-aid training from St John Ambulance and sessions with the Albany Police and Ambulance Officers, the Street Chaplains have been on the streets for more than six months and are thrilled with the continuing support they are receiving.

Albany Street Chaplains director Greg Barber said he was all for the decision to introduce a team to regional areas saying these places get the same issues and situations that Perth and Northbridge receive.

“People like to go out and enjoy themselves which is good but as they have too much alcohol their common sense drops and all sorts of things can happen so it’s nice for us to be on the streets to ensure these people get home safely,” he said.

The team all are equipped with backpacks full of the essentials including first-aid kits, blankets, hair bands and vomit bags, water and even plastic thongs.

The team help with all situations throughout the night whether it is assisting in breaking up a fight or intervening before one breaks out, helping people with taxis and supporting those in distress.

Mr Barber said one of the main things he has noticed over the past few months was recognition and support increasing saying they have had more and more people acknowledging them for their work.

“The police and taxi drivers are supportive and we have had parents ring up saying they heard how we had looked after their child and ensuring they got in a taxi home and they’ve called with great appreciation,” he said.

“Ninety percent of the people out there do the right thing — they go out have fun and head home at the end of the night but it’s when someone has had a bit too much to drink when trouble starts, but we have never felt threatened or unsafe.”

When asked why these chaplains dedicated their time ensuring the safety of others, Mr Barber said they cared about the people who were out on those streets.

“We’ve got parents and children of our own that we want to come home safe after a night out and we can help with this, we’ve got the time, we got the qualifications and training so why don’t we step out on the streets and help people,” he said.

Studio 146 owner Malcolm Pages said he supported and appreciated the work of the chaplains.

“It’s good to have people in the street helping those that get refused entry or are on life bans based on poor past behaviour; they seem to talk to these said people, rather than have them annoy us and the police all night, so it’s a positive having them there,” he said.