Schoolies is a rite of passage for many Australians but is associated with reckless behaviours

Schoolies, as it has come to be known, began on Queensland's Gold Coast in the 1980s when school leavers from all over Australia flocked to the sunshine state and events were organised specifically for the occasion.

The Gold Coast, particularly Surfers Paradise, has maintained its status as the largest single venue for this revelry, attracting tens of thousands of Schoolies each year.

This year will be no exception, with thousands expected to visit the Gold Coast this week, as well as Byron Bay, Port Macquarie on the NSW North Coast and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Locals are divided about Schoolies, as the boon to the local economy is weighed against the presence of high school revellers in sleepy coastal towns.

A 2017 study found that within a sample of Gold Coast residents most were either 'conditional supporters' (33 per cent) or 'conditional opponents' (34 per cent) who could see both the costs and benefits of Schoolies Week to the community.

Byron Bay resident Ebony Astley said the waste produced by visitors was a problem.

"Rubbish is a massive issue, people leave shopping trolleys and alcohol bottles on the main streets, I think they come here and forget it is a small coastal town with a small population," she said.

In February the Byron Bay region was impacted by the devastating floods that killed five people in nearby Lismore, and the town is still recovering from multiple flooding events since then, with the most recent flash flooding just three weeks ago.

"While Byron town centre has recovered from the floods, a lot of small businesses are still struggling so having an influx of visitors isn't a bad thing," Ms Astley said.

In recent years Schoolies has become contentious as a culture of binge drinking, drug use and violence is associated with the annual event.

This disturbing trend is reflected in arrest numbers, where 'Toolies' outnumber younger partygoers.

Toolies refers to older men who are not high school leavers who join the celebrations, usually to pursue younger females.

Last year police said the majority of issues on the Gold Coast stemmed from Toolies, with only six school leavers among 27 arrests, all of which were for minor matters, including public nuisance.

Several deaths have occurred over the years. In 2019 a young man from Melbourne fell from a high-rise balcony and died on the Gold Coast.

In 2018 a Sydney teenager fell to his death from a balcony after inhaling nitrous oxide while partying with friends. A 17-year-old girl also died in 2012 from a balcony fall.

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There are also concerns around drug use at Schoolies, prompting some advocates to call for drug testing to be made available.

One Gold Coast study found that one-third of males and 17 per cent of females interviewed at Schoolies had used cannabis in the previous 24 hours, and six per cent of males and three per cent of females had used MDMA.

"I don't know of any locals who enjoy spending time in town whilst Schoolies is on. I feel like everyone stays out of town, especially for that week where it's really busy," Ms Astley said.

"I'm not opposed to Schoolies, I think it's good to celebrate the end of school, I just wish there was a larger team that could monitor the rubbish and environment side of things."

Last year, authorities reported an estimated 50 per cent decline in medical incidents and far fewer arrests compared to previous years.

Each year a Christian volunteer group called the Red Frogs provide sober assistance to Schoolies participants by cooking pancakes, walking people home, and monitoring a 24/7 help hotline.