BASSINTHEGRASS 2021 is set to welcome its biggest crowd ever with 14,000 music fans heading to Mindil Beach on 15 May to enjoy one of the country's first large-scale music festivals since restrictions on social gatherings began to ease nationwide.
The Northern Territory Major Events Company will partner with NT Health and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre to support a number of harm-reduction strategies and help music fans have a premium experience at BASSINTHEGRASS.
One of these strategies is to work with peer-based harm reduction group DanceWize, with additional support from Event Champions across multiple St John NT sites.
Recruited from the Darwin festival and party scene, DanceWize use key peer educators to roam the BASSINTHEGRASS site and provide practical advice about how to party safely at music festivals.
Other harm-reduction strategies available include amnesty bins, chill-out zones, free water, sunscreens, condoms and plenty of shade and misting tents.
Quotes from Minister for Health and Major Events Natasha Fyles:
"Adopting harm reduction measures for BASSINTHEGRASS means we are meeting best practice when it comes to the wellbeing of festivalgoers.
"DanceWize key peer educators are experienced at implementing harm reduction while promoting safety in a fun festival environment.
"We have worked closely with stakeholders to ensure music fans have a memorable time for all the right reasons at BASSINTHEGRASS."
